A man who allegedly praised a mass murderer on Facebook avoided jail after getting into an argument with two Afghan refugees.

Phillip Horn, 46, from Gillingham, got into a confrontation with the two men - who he thought were "having a laugh at his expense".

Medway magistrates heard the pair were sitting on a wall near his Richmond Road home waiting for a bus and talking and laughing about something in their own language.

Horn, who had been looking out of his window, thought they were laughing about him.

He got a weapon and went outside to confront the pair, demanding they apologise.

The foreign nationals disputed they had done anything wrong and refused to apologise. A scuffle broke out and Horn punched one of them while still holding the weapon in his hand, the court heard.

"Well done Anders Breivik. I take my hat off to you sir..." - what Phillip Horn allegedly wrote on Facebook

The two Afghan men were charged with affray, but the charges were later dropped. Horn was charged with possession of an offensive weapon - initially thought to have been a hammer - and affray, but during the court hearing the affray charge was changed to threatening behaviour.

Horn admitted both offences, but it was accepted in court the weapon was a drill handle and not a hammer.

However, it was also revealed in court that Horn was convicted about four years ago of possession of an offensive weapon, which on that occasion was a hammer.

Magistrates gave Horn a two-month jail term, suspended for 12 months, put him under curfew for three months and ordered him to pay £85 costs.

Horn declined to comment about the case, saying only: "Write what you want".

He was arrested last August on suspicion of inciting racial hatred after it was claimed he posted a message about Norwegian killer Anders Breivik.

It was alleged he wrote: "Well done Anders Breivik. I take my hat off to you sir.

"You proved you were not insane and that you are just one of many who wish their country to return to the way it was before it was invaded by the Muslim population."

After an investigation by police, the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed earlier this year the case against Horn had been discontinued.