A thug who spat at a police officer and was racially abusive to a family on Swalecliffe beach has narrowly avoided jail.

John Hermitage, 36, was spotted by two police community support officers being racially abusive on the evening of Tuesday, August 23.

Hermitage, of Alvis Avenue, Herne Bay, had been drinking and spat at an officer during his arrest.

He pleaded guilty to causing racially aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress and assaulting a police officer when he appeared at Thanet Magistrates’ Court last Thursday.

"Understandably the family, who were on holiday in the area, were very shocked and upset by his behaviour..." - PC Jamie Weale

PC Jamie Weale said: "Understandably the family, who were on holiday in the area, were very shocked and upset by his behaviour.

"We take all matters of racial prejudice extremely seriously and will always employ a zero tolerance towards anyone demonstrating this sort of behaviour."

Hermitage was sentenced to 90 days in prison, suspended for a year.

He was given a 60-day sentence, suspended for a year, for the assault on police which will run concurrently to the 90-day sentence.