Convicted criminals have been told they need no longer wear high-visibility jackets after abuse and threats from passers-by.

The vests - which have "Community Payback" on them - are worn by low-risk offenders while they carry out community work.

But the jackets have been temporarily withdrawn by Kent's Probation Service from two sites, both in Medway.

A benefits fraudster claims he had an aggressive reaction from people and would rather go to jail than be humiliated by having to wear one of the jackets.

As part of a government initiative aimed at improving public confidence in the justice system, offenders sentenced to unpaid work now have to wear the bright orange jackets to highlight what they are doing for their punishment.

It has been devised by neighbourhood crime and justice adviser Louise Casey, who has visited unpaid work schemes being supervised by Kent Probation Service.

But Nigel, from Medway, has spoken out after claiming he and fellow offenders are being threatened by members of the public while wearing the jackets.

The offender, sentenced to 300 hours of community service, had already completed 100 hours before he was asked to wear the jacket.

He said: "I am there for a punishment, not to be humiliated and abused."

~ Audio: 'Nigel' speaks to kmfm about why he feels the jackets are unfair (his voice has been distorted) >>>

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Rita Hockley, Kent Probation's Community Payback operations manager, said: "We conducted risk assessments following both incidents and, as a result, have withdrawn the wearing of high visibility vests at both sites for the short term.

"The intention is to re-introduce the wearing of vests at these sites as soon as possible."

Mrs Hockley added that although the Ministry of Justice launched the scheme at the start of last month, the hi-vis vests have been standard attire for offenders at Community Payback sites in Kent for the last three years.