A Gravesend man who spat in the face of a police officer, then tried to bite them after he was arrested has been jailed.

Delroy Samuels, 39, was detained after being seen with a knife inside an Ashford supermarket late on August 26.

Witnesses said he had been arguing with a woman before taking a knife from his pocket and forcing the blade into a cardboard DVD display stand.

The knife was not located by attending officers, but Samuels was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly after making threats to kill officers.

After he was put in a police car to be taken to custody, he repeatedly tried to bite an officer and spat in their face. He was restrained but continued to struggle and shout threats at the officer.

Samuels, of Jubilee Crescent, admitted possession of a bladed article, assaulting an emergency worker and affray at Canterbury Crown Court on September 28 and was jailed for two years and four months on October 1.

Chief Inspector Nick Sparkes, District Commander for Ashford, said: "It is never acceptable for anyone to abuse or assault our officers as they go about their work keeping the community safe.

"Being assaulted must never be seen as "part of the job" of being a police officer and Kent Police will seek the prosecution of anyone who commits such offences.

"The message from this case is clear; assault our officers and you could end up serving a prison sentence like this offender."