The proud father of a police officer was stabbed in the head with a fork and wine glass after an argument in an Indian restaurant.

Gary Tween objected to what was being said at the The Shamrat in Lower Stone Street, Maidstone.

He told a jury he heard another diner shouting that "all police are a bunch of *****" so he challenged him.

Mr Tween told Maidstone Crown Court the man said: "They (the police) were all in it together... they were all s******* each other. He was repeating the same things over and over.

"I found it offensive... also my son is a police officer and I am very proud of him."

The man later apologised and offered to pay for Mr Tween's meal, the jury heard.

But Mr Tween claimed father and son Nigel and Ben Goodall, who were part of the man's group, then launched an attack on him using a broken glass and a fork.

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Nigel, 68, of Medway Meadows, East Peckham, and Ben, 44, of Kent Road, Snodland, have both denied a charge of wounding Mr Tween with intent on March 18, 2020.

Prosecutor Richard Job said: "The Goodalls were with a friend, Paul Stone, who possibly had been drinking that evening and was very loud and making scurrilous and insulting comments about the police for some 10 minutes."

Mr Tween and friend Darren Valencia were a few feet away and could hear what Stone was saying, he said.

"Gary Tween's son happened to be a police officer and he took offence. He approached Mr Stone's table and asked him to keep it down and to lower his voice.

"Mr Stone was immediately apologetic. He offered to pay for Mr Tween's meal but the Goodalls objected to the fact their conversation had been heard and became aggressive and antagonistic and appeared to want to fight him."

The jury heard that the restaurant's manager then intervened and invited Mr Tween and Mr Valencia to finish their drinks at the front of the restaurant.

The men walked away, together with Mr Stone, but as Mr Tween put on his jacket he was attacked by the two defendants.

"Ben launched himself towards Mr Tween and punched him in the face, At almost the same moment, Nigel Goodall, having picked up a fork in the restaurant, used it to repeatedly stab Mr Tweed in the back of his head, " he alleged.

The court heard how Mr Tweed fought back and threw punches as the father and son continued their attack.

"Mr Valencia then rushed back and tried to pull Ben Goodall away and it descended into a scuffle, with the four crashing into tables.

"Ben Goodall then grabbed some cutlery but before he could do anything he was placed in a bear hug by Mr Valencia, who held onto him.

"His father picked up a wine glass from a table and lunged towards Mr Tweed's face, missed but did jam the glass into Mr Tweed's head breaking it and causing a nasty cut."

The Goodalls told the jury they had been enjoying a meal with their friend Paul Stone - who was " a little loud".

Nigel said: "Paul had a very small rant about the police in general which lasted no more than 30 seconds.

"Then Mr Tween came over in a very aggressive manner. I thought he had thrown the first punch."

He said he had been eating at the restaurant for 20 years without incident.

"After Paul had his rant which had upset Mr Tween I was sitting with my back to him and the first time I noticed him was when he was at the table.

"It wasn't directed at me so I took no notice. It was mainly directed at Paul. I did nothing."

He said Mr Stone went to Mr Tween's table and apologised but Ben was annoyed he had come over.

"Ben told him he should mind his own business and Mr Tween then asked my son to continue the argument outside," he said.

He was then shown footage of the brawl and admitted it didn't match his recollection of the fight.

He told the jury he was eating at the time and had a fork in his hand when Mr Tween and his friend Mr Valencia came over "to threaten my son".

"He wanted to take Ben outside. My instinct was to stand up and get between them to diffuse the situation. Everyone sat down and I continued with my meal.

"There was arguing going on between Mr Tween and my son. They were asked to go to the bar and Mr Valencia walked towards the bar. As Mr Tween put his coat on he gestured for my son to come outside."

The jury has retired to consider its verdict.