A drunken thug downed bottles of brandy before barging his way into a neighbour’s house and grabbing two knives.

Drunken Robert Luff claimed his parents were being attacked and ran into the street in Herne Bay wielding the blades.

Canterbury Crown Court heard his neighbour, a mum-of-three, became so concerned when the 49-year-old took bread and carving knives that she called the police.

But when an officer arrived and tried to restrain the former newspaper delivery driver, he lashed out, kicking her in the legs.

Luff was eventually taken to the police station where he told other officers: “My behaviour was disgusting.”

He has now appeared at Canterbury Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to having knives in public and assaulting PC Harriet Slegg in July last year.

Defence barrister Keith Yardy told Judge James O’Mahony that Luff was “a likeable gentleman who is mortified by what he had done and has great difficulty in remembering what happened.”

'Combining knives with alcohol is a very dangerous cocktail, no pun intended...' - Judge James O'Mahony

Prosecutor Jeffrey Lamb said after leaving his neighbour's house, she could see Luff standing outside his mother and father's house.

Two officers arrived and went into his parents' home, where there was a commotion. During the struggle, PC Slegg was kicked in the leg.

He was jailed for 18 months after the judge told him: “You said at the police station that your behaviour was disgusting and you were absolutely right.

“Armed with two kitchen knives, you were aggressive and police had to be called and you then injured someone who was only doing her job.”

The judge added that Luff has a “serious binge drinking problem which if you don’t address, will only get worse".

He said the public was concerned about weapons on the streets, and combining knives with alcohol “is a very dangerous cocktail, no pun intended!”

The judge continued: “It is so easy for a knife to go into a vital organ, especially in the hands of someone in drink.”

After the sentencing, investigating officer Detective Constable Stephanie Watson said: "Thankfully Luff did not use the knives to hurt anyone but that does not make it right that he took them out on the street and scared residents with his erratic behaviour.

"Knives are dangerous and anyone found arming themselves with one will be brought to justice."