A father-of-nine brandished a meat cleaver at youngsters and shouted at KFC staff after getting off a train to meet one of his children.

Alan Rayner, 42, had drunk so much alcohol and taken so many drugs he couldn't even remember threatening the youngsters with the weapon in Strood on October 1, nor how he came by the meat cleaver.

Rayner had got the train from his home in Tonbridge to Strood to meet one of his children. He walked from the station to Strood Retail Park with the meat cleaver having found it on the train.

He then went into the B&M store and purchased a bottle of Frosty Jack cider and downed the whole bottle while he was waiting to meet his 18-year-old son.

Shortly before 7pm, Rayner, of Mann Square, Tonbridge, was seen brandishing the weapon at a group of youngsters in the car park before putting the meat cleaver in the waistband of his trousers.

This all happened outside the KFC outlet where he shouted at staff inside.

Someone called police and when officers arrived at the scene, they asked him if he had a knife and he admitted he did.

Rayner was arrested and police seized the meat cleaver and he was later charged with being in possession of an offensive weapon.

He pleaded guilty to the offence when he appeared before magistrates in Medway on October 19.

Neil Sweeney, prosecuting, said during interview he told officers he didn't remember the incident at all.

Mr Sweeney added: "He remembers getting on the train. He had taken drugs and drunk alcohol. He said he must have found the meat cleaver on the train as he didn't bring it from Tonbridge. He brandished it at some youths in the car park.

"He told officers he's not that sort of person, but has previous convictions for violence including racially aggravated offences. However, he's not been in trouble for five years."

The court also heard, Rayner had been through a relationship breakdown and was struggling with had mental health issues going on.

He said: "I have no recollection of what happened and I have no animosity towards anyone at all. I've not touched booze since and I am making changes to my life."

Magistrates decided to adjourn sentencing to allow a pre-sentencing report to be carried out on him.

Rayner will be sentenced at the same court on November 16 and was granted bail until then.