A two-year-old girl in a pram was sworn at and threatened by a man on an expletive-laden rampage through Maidstone.

Appearing at Maidstone Magistrates' Court yesterday Dean Yeo pleaded guilty to two charges of racial abuse, two of threatening and abusive behaviour and one of assaulting a police officer following incidents last Saturday.

The court heard how he approached the toddler in Church Street at around 1pm and shouted in her face "you little s***, you're going to get it tonight," before turning on her five-year-old sibling and parents.

The foul-mouthed tirade came minutes after he racially abused a member of staff from Xross-Polynation Gallery, in Starnes Court, off Union Street, when he was refused access to the closed premises' toilet.

Leaving the building, Yeo, who appeared under the influence of drugs, walked down Church Street spouting expletives at passers-by, including families and children.

"He's been at large for six years without causing harm to anyone. He is deeply sorry and embarrassed about this incident." — Lee Bridges, defending

After verbally abusing the young girl, he was confronted by the disgruntled gallery employee, at which point the child’s father intervened and punched him to the floor to try to stop the situation escalating.

The 39-year-old, of Wallis Avenue, Park Wood, then fled and boarded a bus in High Street, where he was approached by an armed response team and proceeded to push an officer over before being arrested on suspicion of assault.

Magistrates heard how both the officer and the man who punched Yeo had to receive treatment for cuts after he said he had HIV.

At one point the defendant deliberately smeared blood on the officer's t-shirt.

Lee Bridges, defending, said Yeo, who has 23 previous convictions for 52 offences, has been out of trouble since he was released from a psychiatric hospital in 2009 where he had been indefinitely detained for biting a woman's nose off.

Mr Bridges said: "He's been at large for six years without causing harm to anyone. He is deeply sorry and embarrassed about this incident."

Yeo, who has a history of severe mental illness and is deemed a danger to the public, was remanded in custody until Wednesday, August 12, to appear at the same court for sentencing.

A police spokesman confirmed officers were firearms-trained but did not draw their weapons.

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