A drug dealer racially abused a man outside his own home before chasing him while wielding a hammer, a court heard.

Levi Eastwood carried out the unprovoked assault, which was filmed on the victim’s mobile phone, in May 2018 and was found possessing a large amount of cocaine when officers went to arrest him in Strood.

The 26-year-old, of Shamrock Road, Gravesend, pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine with intent to supply, racially aggravated common assault, common assault and four counts of possessing an offensive weapon.

He was jailed for five years and three months at Woolwich Crown Court.

The court heard on May 31 the victim for the racially aggravated assault returned to a property in Cliffe Road, Strood, and saw Eastwood lurking outside his home.

Without provocation, Eastwood became racially abusive towards him and threatened to stab him.

Fearing he would be seriously assaulted, the victim turned on his mobile phone and filmed himself running to a nearby fast food restaurant.

Eastwood could be heard in the background shouting racist abuse while chasing after him holding a hammer.

During the chase, Eastwood threw a hammer at the victim before running away when he realised police had been called.

Officers looked at CCTV footage and quickly identified Eastwood as the offender. They then went to a property in Strood to detain him but he refused to give himself up.

Officers decided to force their way in, as he was known to be inside and it was feared he would try to escape.

Eastwood did attempt to flee but was found in a nearby alleyway in possession of another hammer and two knives.

A search of the property subsequently found a large quantity of cash and cocaine with a street value of around £6,000.

DC Chris Spencer, the investigating officer for this case, said: "The level of abuse Eastwood directed at the victim, who had done nothing to provoke him, was entirely unacceptable and shows him to be a dangerous and unpredictable offender.

"This was a traumatic experience for the victim, who had every reason to fear they were about to come to serious harm.

"The quantity of drugs found in his address showed he was in possession with intent to supply.

"We take a zero tolerance approach to drug-dealing and will seek to prosecute anyone who seeks to benefit from the sale of substances that ruin people’s lives.

"The sentence imposed on Eastwood is therefore entirely justified."