A TEENAGER from Woodberry Drive, Murston, Sittingbourne, has been charged with a public order offence and two counts of assaulting a police officer.

Gavin Bridge, 19, was arrested on Saturday afternoon following an incident at Willow House in Woodberry Drive, in which he threatened to throw himself from a balcony. He has been bailed to appear before Sittingbourne magistrates on Friday.

Five police cars, a police van and a team of paramedics were called to maisonettes when the two-hour incident began.

Mr Bridge was intially leaning out of an upper-floor window, shouting to neighbours, friends and family.

A crowd of onlookers gathered to watch the drama and one woman said: "Every one gathered when we we heard the noise. He's threatening to throw himself off the balcony."

Relatives, friends and police officers wearing protective jackets tried at first to talk him out of the second-storey maisonette. When this failed a team of policemen wearing helmets and carrying other equipment entered the building and reached the balcony leading to the maisonette.

Mr Bridge then jumped out of a window and climbed over the balcony rail, threatening to throw himself off.

After more talks with relatives, police and friends, a helmeted policeman managed to grab him around the neck and hauled him back over the balcony rail.

A 17-year-old girl, also arrested on suspicion of breaching the peace, was later released without charge.