A jobless Ramsgate alcoholic – who claims he spends up to £200 every fortnight on booze – has been ordered to pay compensation to a neighbour he threatened with a machete.

Michael Flaherty, 39, of Chatham Court, Ramsgate was given an 18-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, after admitting affray.

Prosecutor Trevor Wright told Canterbury Crown Court how Flaherty had a bust up with a neighbour in June.

He then armed himself with a machete and went to James Goldthorpe’s home and made threats.

His barrister Simon Taylor said Flaherty was battling his alcohol addiction and Judge Nigel Van der Bijl then asked how much he spent on drink.

Flaherty revealed it was “between £100 to £200 a fortnight” – and then judge retorted: “Then he can pay (his victim) £500 compensation.”