A FATHER and son were sentenced to a total of 18 weeks in prison after hitting police officers called to a disturbance at a wake.

Ian Martindale, his wife Jennifer and son Matthew, all appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court on Thursday and admitted one charge of assaulting an officer.

Mrs Martindale, aged 55, also accepted obstructing an officer while 23-year-old Matthew pleaded guilty to a second assault charge.

Problems started around midnight on November 4, during a family get-together after the funeral of Mrs Martindale's 32-year-old daughter, who had died a fortnight earlier. An uninvited guest - an acquaintance of Matthew's - became drunk and rowdy and punched Ian between the eyes, before leaving the Martindales' house. Police were called to the family's Stalls Farm Road home, in Droitwich, but left after seeing no trouble. They were called back at 12.50am after reports that Matthew had a knife.

Abbey Kingston, prosecuting, said: "Matthew was in his bedroom and no knife was found. He was arrested to prevent a further breach of the peace.

"On arrest he became aggressive and punched an officer in the chest. Jennifer tried to intervene. She pulled the arm of a PC quite hard. Matthew calmed down but Jennifer was still aggressive.

"She was stopped by a PC and pulled at his uniform and struck out at him.

"Ian Martindale was in the kitchen and tried to get upstairs but was restrained by an officer. He became aggressive and punched him in the stomach."

Andrew Childs, defending all three, said it had been an emotional day and Ian Martindale had been 'riled' when he was hit.

He said: "When Matthew heard about the incident, he was extremely angry because it was his friend who hit his father. He said something like 'He needs to get a life' and somehow it seems to have become fears over a 'knife'.

"The police were again called and came, suitably dressed and stormed the house."

The court heard that officers arrested Matthew and the assaults occurred as the family became 'alarmed' and tried to reach each other. It also heard that Ian Martindale had his head cut open during the scuffle. Jennifer Martindale, of previous good character, was handed a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £50 compensation. However, she wept as Deputy District Judge Goodman sentenced Matthew to 10 weeks in prison and 49-year-old Ian to eight weeks. Mr Childs said he intended to appeal.