A decorator who threatened and threw stones towards two teenagers he thought had killed his stepson’s cat before lashing out at police has been ordered to carry out unpaid work.

Nigel King got into a fracas with the youngsters on Darland Banks in Chatham, in June last year and told them he would “rock them” before hurling stones on the ground close-by.

The incident scared the teenagers, resulting in one taking time off school because he was so traumatised.

King was later handed a caution for his actions, but because he was later arrested by police and charged with assaulting an emergency worker he therefore breached the terms of the caution.

The 55-year-old was then hauled before the courts and charged with two counts of common assault.

He admitted the charges when he appeared before magistrates in January who were told King thought they had killed his family pet.

But the court also heard when police went to his home over another matter in October, King became irate when officers put him in handcuffs which led to a scuffle and the officer fell to the ground and resulted in him cutting his hand.

After that incident, King, of Beacon Hill, Chatham, was charged with assault on an emergency worker and also admitted that charge in January when a pre-sentencing report was ordered to be carried out on him before he was sentenced.

He returned to Margate Magistrates’ Court on March 4 to learn his fate.

Prosecuting solicitor Lucie Fish told magistrates the incident with the teenagers happened on June 1, last year.

She added: “There was a physical altercation and the teenagers moved to protect their friend and he threatened them and then threw the rock towards them and they felt threatened with violence.

“One of them froze and feared for his safety and one spent two days off school because he was so affected.”

The prosecutor also told the court the other incident, on October 25 last year, happened when police went to King’s home after an allegation of a “domestic nature” had been made, but that later no further action was taken over the claims.

She added: “He pushed one (officer) and grabbed his stab vest and they fell to the floor and the officer ended up with a cut to his hand.

“He made no comment in interview and the offence is aggravated because it was on an emergency worker.”

She also told magistrates the officer made a victim impact statement which said he understood King had lost several family members to bereavements (at the time) and that may have affected his mental health, but that he felt King had a disregard for other people’s safety.

She added: “He’s not offended since 2002.”

Richard Graham, defending, told the court his client was lightly convicted.

He added: “He’s 55-years-old and has not been in trouble for 20 years and now has PTSD and compound bereavement depression and he’s very sorry, and he’s learnt he’s now diabetic and was quite low.

“He’s a decorator and does building work and he earns £350 a week and wants me to apologise to the court on his behalf.”

Magistrates said they had listened to everything that had been said and as a result were placing King on an 18-month community order which will involve him carrying out 150 hours of unpaid work and completing 20 rehabilitation sessions.

He was also ordered to pay the officer £100 compensation and a victim surcharge of £114.

King will pay what he owes the court at a rate of £40 a month.