A thug who went to his son's school with two knives in his car after harassing and threatening to kill his ex-girlfriend has walked free from court.

Hadley Porter had told Harriet Lester he was going to take the four-year-old child before turning up drunk at St George's Primary School, in Minster, one afternoon.

But teachers and the police were alerted - sparking an alert, forcing children to stay late while Porter was arrested.

The 34-year-old was ordered to pay the school £500 compensation for the disruption and upset he caused.

Porter, of Lower Road, Eastchurch, was sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment - suspended for two years - after admitting harassment, two offences of having a bladed article and drink-driving.

"It was a very unhappy cocktail of alcohol, high emotion and bad judgement..." - John Fitzgerald, defending

He was banned from driving for three years and will have to undergo a domestic violence programme. A restraining order banning contact with Miss Lester for 10 years was also made.

Porter was spared jail after the judge said he was impressed with his progress in the three months he had been on remand, particularly with an alcohol treatment programme.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Porter had been in an on-off relationship with the victim for seven years. She described him as controlling and violent.

"They tried to separate a number of times, but she ended up giving him further chances," said prosecutor Martin Yale. "He would be nice for a while and then go back to his old ways."

Miss Lester had returned home from taking their son to school on February 7 when Porter phoned her and threatened: "I am going to cut you open."

He said he was going to snatch the child and added: "I am going to ruin your life." She hung up but he called back several times, making more threats.

When she went with a friend to collect her son from school, she saw Porter's car.

"This caused her fear," said Mr Yale. "She felt sick. She was concerned he was going to take their son. She rang the police. The school was told to keep her son there.

"The police arrived and searched his car. In the door they saw a knife with an 8in blade. They also found a butter knife in the rear footwell."

He was breath-tested and found to be more than three times the legal limit.

The court heard Porter had previous convictions for assaulting Miss Lester, including burning her with a cigarette just below her left eye.

Judge Jeremy Carey said his sentence was aimed at reducing the risk of re-offending.

Ordering compensation for the school, the judge told Porter: "That day you attended with knives in your car. I accept you probably didn't have them to threaten use of them, but you disrupted activities at the school and must have frightened a lot of little children.

"When word got out, people tweeted and heard what happened. You caused meetings to be held by the school governors and head teacher. You will stand somewhat higher in the view of the school if you do something to compensate them.

"You will pay £500. I will give you a year to pay."

John Fitzgerald, defending, said Porter claimed the weapons found did not have a link to Miss Lester.

"It was a very unhappy cocktail of alcohol, high emotion and bad judgement," he said.

Porter had found out from his son that a "strange man" had been in the house and it hit him hard. He went to work felling trees and could not concentrate.

Mr Fitzgerald said Porter went to "sort it out", but met his match when he was confronted by men with weapons.

"He can't explain why he went to the school," said Mr Fitzgerald. "He is ashamed of it. He has reflected on how bad his behaviour has been. The relationship is over. It is destructive and miserable and he has had enough.

"He wants to build a life for his son. He wants to get off the island and start again."

Porter's time in custody had been the longest he had gone without alcohol, added Mr Fitzgerald.