A machete-wielding man who threatened a police officer and damaged four police cars has been jailed for two years.

Carl Smith also repeatedly threatened to kill and harm council and NHS staff and has been banned from swathes of the town after being handed an antisocial behaviour order (Asbo).

The 42-year-old subjected staff to torrents of abuse and foul language during regular phone calls, often offering detailed and graphic descriptions of how he would hurt or kill them.

His Asbo means he is banned from going within 10m of several Croydon Council staff members and excluded from the council’s Taberner House HQ, Croydon Town Hall and the streets surrounding Thornton Heath housing office.

Police were forced to use a taser on Smith as he waved a machete in Stroud Road, Croydon, last December, and he was sentenced at Croydon Crown Court on March 26.

Just days later he was back before a civil court to receive his Asbo, with representatives of Croydon Council explaining staff were in danger of serious harm unless it was granted.

Delivering his judgement, the magistrate told Smith his actions had caused severe distress and he believed his behaviour would continue unless the Asbo was in effect.

Tony Brooks, Croydon Council’s director of public safety, said: “We’re pleased the courts have decided to grant an Asbo against Carl Smith.

“For several years, staff from the council, the NHS and our contractors, have been subjected to completely unacceptable verbal abuse and threatening behaviour.

“The fact he has complied with the conditions of an injunction in the past and more recently, an interim Asbo demonstrates he is capable of keeping to the terms.

“We will not tolerate our staff being intimidated as they carry out their duties.”