A YOUNG father with a record of attacking police officers has failed in a Court of Appeal challenge to his latest prison sentence.

Michael Rendell, of Glebe Road, Didcot, was jailed for 15 months at Oxford Crown Court in February after admitting two counts of assault causing actual bodily harm and one common assault.

The drunk 23-year-old had punched and headbutted two police officers when they tried to arrest him following an incident at his girlfriend’s house in January.

He had flown into a rage, accusing his girlfriend of having an affair and their baby not being his, and threw something at her as she cradled the baby. A struggle then ensued, during which Rendell put his hands around the throat of his mother, Debbie Rendell, before storming off outside.

Police found him drunk in his girlfriend’s car. When they tried to put him in handcuffs, he punched and headbutted Pc Ross Duff. He was put in a police van to calm down, but responded by headbutting Pc Paul Lorenc.

Rejecting an appeal against his sentence, Mr Justice Beatson said Rendell already had a long list of convictions for violence, particularly against police officers.

Between the end of 2005 and July 2009, he had amassed four convictions for assaulting police officers and had others for attacks on civilians.

Mr Justice Beatson, who heard the appeal with Lord Justice Laws and Mr Justice Foskett, rejected Rendell’s lawyer’s assertion that the crown court judge should have paid more attention to sentencing guidelines.

He said: “This appellant has a very bad record of convictions for assault on the police. On this occasion, he assaulted two police officers.

“We consider that this sentence, while possibly severe, was not manifestly excessive. Given the record this appellant had, it was justified.”