Two police officers were subjected to violence and abuse after they were called to a hotel to deal with a theft allegation, a court heard.

One of the PCs was called racist names as he and his female colleague struggled to restrain Terri Aldridge and her partner Daniel Baldock.

The couple’s three children could be seen screaming in terror on body worn camera footage of the incident at the Holiday Inn in Maidstone Road, Chatham.

The officers were called on May 19 last year after Baldock, 32, was caught on CCTV cameras stealing alcohol from the function room.

It was discovered that they had given false names when checking in as Baldock was subject to a suspended sentence at the time.

After a delay, Aldridge, 31, opened the door and asked the female PC: “What do you want you slag?”

Prosecutor Simon Blackford said Baldock unleashed racist abuse at the other officer and threatened violence if Aldridge was arrested.

Aldridge also used racist language and threatened: “I will bottle you.”

There were young children in the room, who were clearly distressed by what was going on..." prosecutor Simon Blackford

“There was a considerable degree of threat and use of violence on their part,” Mr Blackford told Maidstone Crown Court.

“There were young children in the room, who were clearly distressed by what was going on. There was damage to the door of the drinks cabinet and the door of the room."

Baldock and Aldridge, both of Ordnance Street, Chatham, admitted affray. Baldock also admitted assault with intent to prevent arrest and theft.

Baldock was jailed for 14 months and Aldridge for eight months. Because of time spent in custody on remand, they were due to be released.

Aldridge had previous convictions for public order offences, assault, racially insulting words and behaviour and assault on police. Baldock had convictions for theft, battery, shoplifting and threatening behaviour.

Daniel Stevenson, for Baldock, said: “It can only be described as appalling conduct.”

Baldock, he said, had a troubled background. He was expelled from school at the age of 12 and thrown out of his home at 16.

“He is deeply ashamed of the conduct shown on the footage,” he added. “It is nothing short of a disgrace.”

John Barker, for Aldridge, said the children had been placed with relatives while the couple were in custody.

Judge Martin Huseyin said the police officers needed to know that the offences had been marked by sentences.

“Police officers have a difficult enough job when having to deal with that sort of nonsense..." Judge Martin Huseyin

“It is clear this relationship was damaging to both of them and they way they behaved to other people,” he said. “The decision to move on seems to be a sensible one.”

He told Baldock: “You know it was a disgraceful situation that escalated in the way it never needed to have done.

“Police officers have a difficult enough job when having to deal with that sort of nonsense. You are lucky nobody got seriously injured.

“You were not in control of yourself. The children were clearly distressed by what happened. It won’t have done them any good. What you need to be doing is to calm down and act like an adult.”

The judge told Aldridge, who was said to have had problems with drugs and alcohol: “It is very late to start growing up at the age of 31, but it does appear you have finally decided to be an adult.

“If you do not, the sentences will get longer and longer."