A Birchington man has been given a suspended prison sentence for behaviour intended to cause fear or to provoke unlawful violence on the street where he lives.

Steven Allan Smith, 51, of Alfred Road, denied using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, with such intention, but was convicted for the offence.

Channel Magistrates’ Court sentenced him to 182 days in prison, suspended for 12 months.

Smith was also ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work within the next year, to pay £250 compensation and £250 costs.

He was also made the subject of a restraining order on conviction. The order lasts until October 30 2014 and prohibits him from contacting his victim and a named witness and entering their properties or gardens.

The sentence relates to an offence against another man, committed on November 14 2012 in Alfred Road.