An alcoholic who persistently abused people in the city centre has admitted assaulting a Whitefriars security guard.

Kevin Lusher, 44, was seen by the guard shouting at passers-by and hurling racist comments at two Asian men.

But when approached and asked to leave the area, Lusher punched the guard in the face. He was wrestled to the ground and arrested.

At Canterbury magistrates court on Tuesday, Lusher, who lives at the Porchlight charity’s accommmodation in Whitstable Road, also admitted racially aggravated public disorder and another offence of being drunk and disorderly in St Dunstan’s the previous day.

Jim Harvey said Lusher had a long record of offences for being drunk and disorderly, including a previous conviction for racially aggravated abuse.

He said the police would be seeking an ASBO against Lusher when the current proceedings were concluded.

William Nelson, for Lusher, said his client was a chronic alcoholic whose problems and behaviour all stemmed from his drink problem.

He asked magistrates to adjourn the hearing for a pre-sentence report to include investigating whether his client would be suitable for an alcohol treatment order.

He conceded that it would require Lusher to be on bail to comply with the order but said: “It hasn’t been tried before and the alternative is that he will come out of prison and simply re-offend.

“As it stands, he will either die or keeping coming back to court.”

The bench allowed Lusher bail until the next hearing on February 4 but on condition that he did not enter the city walls or get drunk in a public place.