A thug who racially abused and spat at emergency services has been jailed.

Drunk Mark Lycett was arrested last Friday after causing a disturbance in a town centre.

The 38-year-old entered a business in Rochester High Street uninvited while intoxicated, which led to paramedics and police being called.

When an ambulance crew arrived and tried to help Lycett, he spat on one of them.

Police arrested him before he was taken to hospital by ambulance where he also spat again.

Then, while being treated, Lycett, of no fixed address, racially abused one of the officers with him.

On his return to the police station, Lycett was charged with criminal damage to an ambulance, assaulting an emergency worker and a racially aggravated public order offence.

He pleaded guilty at his first hearing before Medway Magistrates’ Court and was immediately jailed for 22 weeks.

District Commander for Medway, Chief Inspector Trevor Jenner, said: ”Kent’s emergency services should be able to go about their duties assisting the public without being abused or assaulted.

“In this incident, the obnoxious behaviour of this person directed towards paramedics and my officers was entirely unacceptable and he was swiftly brought before the court to answer for his actions.”

SECAmb security manager Dave Monk added: “My colleagues come to work to serve their communities and help people.

“It is never acceptable that they face violence and abuse and we welcome the swift conviction of this individual.

“We are committed to ensuring that those who engage in abusive or violent behaviour are held accountable and prosecuted for their actions.”