A bricklayer who walked through a town waving a kitchen knife after a booze and cocaine binge has narrowly avoided jail.

Darren Cattell had been on a days-long bender in Sheerness when he was spotted by CCTV operators brandishing the blade in Beach Street.

He was soon found by police in nearby Royal Road and assaulted the officers as they arrested him.

However, when he woke up in cells in the morning, he couldn’t remember what crimes he had committed.

In September, Cattell, of High Street, Sheerness, admitted possession of a bladed article and two counts of assault on an emergency worker after initially denying the offences.

At the time the bench heard he wanted help with his drink problem and his solicitor requested an adjournment in the hope Cattell could talk to probation officers about his problems.

The 41-year-old, who has 42 previous convictions, returned to Medway Magistrates’ Court on November 7, to hear his fate.

Sarah Madden, prosecuting, said: “It was 12.55am and he was seen in Beach Street holding the knife and waving it around and CCTV operators alerted the police and when they located him the knife was hanging out of his pocket and he then threw it away.

“He hit the floor and was initially compliant but then he kicked out at PC Taylor and hit him in the stomach and then kicked PC Candelin in the right leg.”

Both officers had written victim personal statements with PC Taylor saying his family worries about him being attacked while on duty as it’s not the first time this year he’s been assaulted by someone.

PC Candelin said the assault, on June 22, had prevented him from attending calls and helping assist his colleagues.

The prosecutor added: “He has 42 previous convictions and 11 of those are for offences against a person. He also assaulted an emergency worker in June 2019 and there were two other assaults on constables in 2016 and 2015.”

Helgaardt Strydom, defending, said his client was well aware of his problems and had now self-referred himself to Turning Point and the Forward Trust to help him kick his drink and drug habits.

He added: “If he goes to prison he is worried about his family as they might lose their accommodation as he makes a financial contribution towards the home and he would also be homeless too [when he comes out]. I would urge you to consider those others when sentencing him.”

Mr Strydom also said the firm that employs Cattell had written him a reference.

“He’s a self-employed bricklayer and he has been for six years and the firm he works for says he is very punctual and always turns up for work and they have no concerns about his ability to do good work.

“It’s a glowing reference and he is a valued member of staff and earns £600 a week.”

Cattell told magistrates: “I am trying to change my ways and get help, I really am. I found the knife and I picked it up and I was off my face on drink and drugs, it was a kitchen knife.

“I was acting like an idiot and I was going to take the knife to my friend’s house [for safety], as he lives nearby.”

Magistrates said they were prepared to suspend his 18-week prison term for 18 months because he was getting help with his problems.

He was also ordered to complete an alcohol treatment requirement for nine months and attend 20 rehabilitation sessions with probation as well as completing 100 hours of unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay both officers £100 compensation as well as a victim surcharge of £154 and £85 court costs.