A teenager who stabbed an off-duty police officer after a row broke out at a McDonald’s branch has been sent to a young offender institution.

Harvey Smalling, who was 19 at the time, had been drinking when he visited the fast-food chain and threatened to “knife” his victim.

The officer had been drinking at the Golden Lion Wetherspoon pub in Rochester on July 2022 with a fellow policeman before the pair headed to McDonald’s in Commercial Road, Strood.

It was there they saw Smalling, who is now 20, ordering his food on a nearby screen.

Prosecutor Ryan Evans told the court: “They used self-service tills to make their order. The first officer was given order six and the second one number seven.

“Staff called out order number five and no one came to collect their order. Smalling is described as looking strangely at the first officer and looking through him.

“The victim said to his fellow officer ‘maybe he doesn’t understand English’, but Smalling became aggressive and said ‘come outside, what’s your problem’.”

Mr Evans then explained how Smalling, of Eldred Drive, Orpington, came close to officer one who said: “What the f*** are you on about, get your food,” before telling him to go away.

Smalling was then heard repeatedly saying “come outside”. The two men then left the restaurant and walked toward the gym in the same road.

Wearing a balaclava at the time, Smalling then said: “Number Five...I’ll knife you, yeah.”

The prosecutor told the court how the officer produced his phone telling Smalling the police were on their way.

Smalling knocked the phone out of his hand, repeating “I’ll knife you, yeah”. He lifted his arms to push him away and felt a punch to his left-hand side, which turned out to be a stab wound.

The ambulance service arrived and the victim was airlifted to King’s College Hospital due to the location of the stabbing and risk of severe internal bleeding.

The court heard how he was treated for a 1cm wound.

Smalling was given a 32-month sentence after admitting affray and four months for wounding which will run concurrently.

Detective Constable Emma Laimbeer, of the Kent Crime Squad, said: “Smalling is a violent individual who reacted aggressively to a courteous question from his victim. He then pursued them after they left the fast food intent of causing harm despite efforts to diffuse the situation. It is entirely appropriate that this criminal is now serving a prison sentence.”