A judge has praised dock officers for the way they handled violence at the end of the trial of three thugs who killed a homeless Romanian man at a Maidstone beauty spot.

Alex Macdonald lashed out after he and Charlie White were jailed for life for the “senseless” murder of Razvan Sirbu, and sentence on Jimmy Buckley, who was found unfit to plead, was adjourned.

A male officer was knocked to the ground as Macdonald attempted to get across the dock to White. Other officers intervened and restrained him as he called them “scumbags” and made a vile comment to Judge Jeremy Carey.

Judge Carey remained in court as the violence unfolded, and Mr Sirbu's mother wept in the public gallery.

The day after the sentencing hearing, the judge told a woman dock officer, who was present during the violence: “I was really impressed with the professional way staff dealt with a very ugly situation.

“There was an assault, as far as I observed. For those not used to seeing it, many were frightened by it.

"It can have a real impact on people like you who are doing their public and professional duty.”

Told that Macdonald was trying to get to White, Judge Carey said: “There would be a lot of people who would say ‘Let him’.”

He added: “I am genuinely in admiration of those who acted yesterday.”

A jury at Maidstone Crown Court had heard that White had threatened violence on Macdonald while they were on remand in prison.

He admitted in evidence he would break Macdonald’s jaw in the dock - and even kill him - if he (White) was convicted of murder.

But he added he was simply frustrated because Macdonald denied murder.

“How would you feel being in a cell with the person who is being selfish?” he asked. “I could punch him, I could knock him out, and anyone is capable of killing.

“But I wouldn’t kill him. I was p***** off when I said that.”