The secretary of Maidstone Bonsai Society has been jailed after threatening to kill a disabled man and his partner in front of their petrified children.

Adrian Long told Joseph Londesborough he was a dead man walking during the foul-mouthed tirade, which his terrified victim filmed on his mobile phone.

The footage was played during a hearing at Folkestone Magistrates' Court where Long, 54, was sentenced.

At his previous court appearance, Long - who had already pleaded guilty to threatening to kill two people - was allowed to break his overnight curfew conditions to attend a monthly Bonsai Society meeting at Madginford Hall, in Bearsted.

On sentencing, magistrate David Ellerby said: "The absolutely appalling threat you made was sustained, cold, chilling and controlled.

"It was far worse than a rant and in every way a real threat."

Teresa Ruiz, prosecuting, told the court of the long-running tension between Long's family and the victims in the build-up to the incident on September 3.

"the absolutely appalling threat you made was sustained, cold, chilling and controlled..." – magistrate david ellerby

The couple lived next door to Long's son Andrew in Edgar Road, Canterbury, while dad Adrian Long lived further along the road.

Adrian Long confronted Asperger's sufferer Mr Londesborough as he and partner Stacey Cusden walked near their home with their two children.

He drove up behind them and abused them from the window, shouting: "Guess what I’m going to do? I’m going to rip your head off."

He also threatened to burn the couple out of their house and shoot Mr Londesborough.

"All we've done so far is break your window," he said.

The couple took video footage of the threats to police and Long was arrested.

Initially he made a "robust denial" of the offence, but when confronted with the mobile phone footage, admitted he was "hung, drawn and quartered", and pleaded guilty two days later.

Maidstone Bonsai Society holds its meetings at Madgingford Hall in Bearsted

Long's solicitor Kerry Waitt said his client accepted full responsibility for his actions, which left him ashamed and with a great deal of profound regret.

Mr Waitt said Long, an amputee who is on benefits and lives with his wife of 24 years and their 14-year-old autistic grandson, had ongoing issues of a psychiatric nature and suffered from post-traumatic stress.

Long was jailed for 180 days and given a restraining order preventing him from contacting the victims.