A MAN with a “deplorable” criminal history is behind bars after assaulting two police officers.

David Mcmenamin, 34, of Boldshay Street, Barkerend, appeared before Bradford Crown Court to be sentenced over the incident on July 18 this year.

Judge Jonathan Durham Hall said there had been “unforgivable leniency” in dealing with Mcmenamin and that he had been given “chance after chance”.

He told him: “You have 203 offences behind 116 convictions. That is deplorable.

“It’s almost a record.”

The offence unfolded only one week after he appeared before Judge Durham Hall, where he received a concurrent seven-month suspended sentence for assaulting emergency workers after the “power of the mitigation”, his plea for forgiveness and promises of good behaviour.

But on July 18, at a hostel for people who need supported living, he struck again. The court heard Warren White was working his first night shift at the hostel and called the police at around 3.20am when Mcmenamin became aggressive to him.

Officers attended and told him to stay in his room. The court heard he was drunk and swaying around and the police let him off with a warning.

But tensions rose again with Mcmenamin unhappy that police had been called, leading Mr White to take refuge in the CCTV room. Mcmenamin forced his way in and Mr White fled and called the police, who attended once again.

“Significant force” had to be used when Mcmenamin “cut up rough” and would not give his hands over to be arrested. He was punched and PAVA spray also had to be used.

Both officers were injured in the attack - one received a bite and another was kicked in the knee - though there has been no lasting impact.

In interview, Mcmenamin accepted some responsibility, but said police had been heavy handed. He pleaded guilty at magistrates’ court to two counts of assaulting a police constable, assaulting Mr White and resisting a police constable.

Because of those offences, he was in breach of a number of previous court orders.

A victim impact statement from Mr White said he had suffered from stress, anxiety and sleeplessness over the incident.

Frances Pencheon, for Mcmenamin, said he’d had a tragic upbringing and this was borne out in substance abuse, alcoholism and his previous convictions.

Ms Pencheon said Mcmenamin was “desperate” for some kind of assistance.

In sentencing, Judge Durham Hall said there could be no more community orders, his behaviour had been such that police had to use “significant, understandable and lawful force” and there had been “untold trauma” for Mr White.

The 68-week suspended sentence Mcmenamin was serving was activated in full, with nine months added on for the latest offences.