A FATHER-OF-EIGHT claimed he would blow his house up with a grenade then assaulted a policeman with a knife, a court heard.

Police were called out on January 29 to the home of Andrew Collier in Pasoe Road, Hither Green, following reports of a disturbance.

But Collier warned an officer he could get hurt as he planned to detonate a grenade, leading to riot police being called out. The 39-year-old also claimed to be carrying a revolver.

Once the situation was brought under control, a police constable was coming down the stairs of Collier's house when the man produced a knife, making a stabbing motion towards the officers foot.

The children were not at the property at the time.

Collier, who pleaded guilty to common assault, told Bromley Magistrates' Court he was struggling with alcohol and under intense personal pressure at the time.

He was handed a 12-week suspended sentence yesterday (April 11).