A yob hurled racist abuse at a policeman and spat in his face after being arrested, a court heard.

Steven Convey, 21, of Bishopsbourne Green, Twydall, was sent to prison for a year after Judge Philip Statman told him: "We owe a lot to our police officers. When they are abused in this way, it is a serious matter."

Convey was with another man when he tried to pass seven fake £10 notes at the Premier Inn hotel in Rainham on March 22 this year.

Maidstone Crown Court heard night receptionist Mark Butler immediately realised they were "crude" forgeries and said he could not accept them. The men then paid with genuine currency.

Mr Butler called the police and they were arrested the next morning. Convey claimed it had been a joke. The other man was not charged.

Jane Scotchmer, prosecuting, said Convey committed two other offences while on bail.

He went into a newsagents in Ordnance Street, Chatham, on July 7 and was abusive to a shop assistant. He went behind the counter and took a box containing £50 and phone cards.

Convey was arrested the next day in New Road, Chatham.

"An officer approached and asked for his details," said Miss Scotchmer. "There followed a volley of abuse. He spat at the officer. He was restrained but continued to spit."

After his arrest, he subjected the officer, who is half Malaysian, to a torrent of racial abuse and threats.

Convey later protested that he couldn't be racist as his sister was involved with a black man. Convey was in breach of a community order imposed in September last year for affray in which he and another man attacked a doorman at a Chatham pub.

He was sentenced to two-and-a-half years youth custody in January 2009 for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

Judge Statman said of the racial abuse: "You passed comments about his ethnicity. Such comments are deeply hurtful, even to experienced police officers, and intolerable to a society such as ours.

"We owe a lot to our police officers. When they are abused in this way, it is a serious matter."

Convey admitted racially aggravated common assault, possessing counterfeit currency and burglary. He was sentenced to eight months for the offences and four months consecutive for breaching the order.

Speaking after the sentencing, Insp Craig West said: "Unfortunately this type of attack on police officers, and other members of the emergency services, is not uncommon.

"Officers have to face behaviour like this on a daily basis whilst attempting to carry out their duties."