A homeless man has appeared in court, charged with lunging at a police officer with a knife and slashing his arm.

Sean Medhurst, 49, has been accused of GBH with intent, two counts of threatening a person with a blade, obstructing a constable in their duty and harassment.

He is also charged with taking a car without the owner’s consent and failing to provide a specimen of breath.

It comes following a disturbance in Tonbridge on Friday.

It was reported at 7.42pm that a man had been seen with a knife in Willow Lea before entering a parked car to drive to another location.

Officers attended the area and found the suspect walking in Darenth Way.

As officers approached, the man is reported to have lunged at a constable who was getting out of a police car on the passenger’s side.

The officer suffered an injury to his forearm which needed hospital treatment, but has since returned to duty.

Medhurst was arrested on suspicion of assault and having excess breath alcohol.

He was remanded to appear by video link at Medway Magistrates’ Court yesterday, where he was further remanded to appear at Maidstone Crown Court in January.