An armed man, who ambushed a medical secretary at a Sittingbourne doctor's surgery, has been jailed for nine months.

Sam Vincent, 51, was seen in a dark room waving a knife - as his victim, who worked at the surgery, pleaded for her life.

Prosecutor Daniel Stevenson told how in October 2020, Vincent had gone to Sittingbourne Memorial Medical Centre as he had a grievance against one of the doctors.

He was found sitting in the dark in one of the rooms at 8.30am on October 2 and began waving a large bread knife.

Mr Stevenson said Vincent, who was shaking with anger, shouted at staff member Sarah Sherry "get over here" and told her to log into the doctor's computer.

Judge Julian Smith said Ms Sherry was "very frightened by her experience and you released her after she appealed to you not to hurt her."

Mr Stevenson added that she recognised the knifeman having known him for about seven years.

He said: "She thought she was going to be injured, or worse."

Vincent asked her when the doctor would be in and was told it would be at least 15 minutes.

Mr Stevenson said: "'You're not going to kill me, are you?' she said. 'My daughter got married last week'. The defendant replied 'No' and then ordered 'Just go'."

"Ms Sherry left, alerted her colleagues and the medical centre was evacuated of both staff and patients."

Vincent, of Middle Way, Sittingbourne, threatened officers as they tried to arrest him and had to be Tasered.

"She thought she was going to be injured, or worse..."

He later admitted an offence of having a bladed article and was jailed for nine months.

Judge Smith said he accepted that Vincent felt a 'sense of grievance' towards the doctor at the medical centre, but had no 'hostile intention' towards Ms Sherry.