A man who was filmed being taken down with a taser by police has been charged with threatening a person with a blade.

Myles Priestley, 38, of Montfort Road, Strood, was arrested on Thursday morning. He was surrounded by knives in the road and had more in his hands.

He has been charged with threatening a person with a blade in a public place and assaulting a constable in the execution of his duty.

He appeared at Medway Magistrates Court on Friday where he was released on conditional bail until June 11. A third charge of sending a threatening message was withdrawn.

The incident was filmed by onlookers in their car and posted on social media sites.

In the video the officers can be heard telling him to put the knives down and said "we'll sort this out for you".

Amanda Yeoman lives on Montford Road and said: "There's a youth centre and schools nearby. At this time in the morning children wouldn't have been going to school but someone could have been going to the shops.

"This is what the area is becoming now. Police need to step up their presence. They only respond to emergencies."

A spokeswoman for police said: "Kent Police was called at 5.30am on Thursday May 28 following a report of a man making threats.

"Officers attended Montfort Road, Strood, where they were confronted by a man holding several knives and making threats toward them. The man was asked to put down all the weapons but refused.

"Taser was deployed in order to detain the man, who was arrested on suspicion of affray and possession of a bladed article."

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