A one-eyed biker warned his former friend that he would kill his dog and then beat him over the head with the carcass.

Damian Dennis Barlow, 46, of Herne Bay, made the vile remarks to Michael Sheehan ahead of a planned brawl between the two men by the town’s iconic clock tower.

Although the pair had been life-long mates and fellow motorheads, a court heard that they had fallen out over an exhaust pipe repair – and that Barlow had subsequently sent vengeful WhatsApp messages.

Prosecuting, Dylan Bradshaw read out messages Barlow sent to Mr Sheehan on November 26, 2022.

“You told my family that you were going to stab me in the throat and put my other eye out, ” said Mr Bradshaw, quoting Barlow’s messages.

“The next time I see your face I will break your dog’s neck and beat you with the carcass.

“Bring your rat, your dog, your pig and you had better insure them all.

“Don’t let me down because there’s a lot of people that want to see this, so don’t make yourself look a **** and not turn up again – you’re the butter of every biker joke at the moment.”

Mr Bradshaw remarked himself: “Some of the messages don’t make a great deal of sense”.

He then continued to recite Barlow’s messages: “I think it’s a funny rat dog chicken and a pig, you’d better get a tracker fitted I can find in the bottom of a river f***ing melt.

“You’re going to prove to the whole of the biker gang that you’re the biggest country-goer.”

Barlow appeared at Margate Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday dressed in beige chinos and a brown leather jacket over a black hoodie.

The bench allowed him to sit on a chair behind his solicitor, Alan Balneaves, rather than in the dock.

“I’ve asked him to smile but I think he probably looks worse when he smiles...”

Barlow pleaded guilty to communicating a threatening message.

“My client says that he has to say what’s in his heart, but he knows that’s not always what’s best,” said Mr Balneaves.

“Like a small dog, he probably barks a lot more than he needs to, but deep down he’s a nice chap who loves motorbikes more than people – part of their argument is all about an exhaust pipe of all things.

“And he may look a bit rough and ready. I’ve asked him to smile but I think he probably looks worse when he smiles.

“What you can’t miss is that he has only got one eye. He was involved in an incident when someone stamped on his one eye and he is now partially blind.”

Mr Balneaves went on to explain that Barlow sent the offensive messages because he is sensitive about his one remaining eyeball.

“He doesn’t mind about sticks and stones but what he does care about is losing that eye,” he argued.

“He’s not very good at talking. I think there are also some mental health issues. The dog that he refers to is a dog that he brought up himself along with Mr Sheehan and he knew him from a puppy.”

The solicitor told the bench that his client was sorry for the messages and that he wanted to “bury the hatchet”.

“I’m going to suggest a conditional discharge and a restraining order and that everyone sorts out their own bikes, goes their own separate ways and look after their own dogs,” added Mr Balneaves.

The magistrates then retired briefly to consider their verdict.

“We have take into account the guilty plea, albeit on the day of the trial,” said chairman of the bench David Graeme.

“For this offence there will be a conditional discharge for a period of 12 months. So there will be no punishment today but if you commit another offence you will be brought back to court and sentenced.

“There will also be a restraining order for 12 months for no direct or indirect contact between yourself and Michael Sheehan.”

Barlow was also made to pay £85 pounds in costs and a £26 victim surcharge.

He appeared exasperated when the financial penalties were announced but agreed full payment would be made within 56 days.