Just reach in and grab him. Sure, you'll be biten a few times, but it will learn that you are not going to give in to him. I believe many snakes will show this agression by your actions. If you reach in to pick him up and he strikes at you, he's learned how to control his environment. If he does this a few times and you stop reaching in to pick him up, he's won. Reach in, get bit or wear gloves the first few times if you need to, but never give up. If you reach in to pick him up, do it. Even if you only hold him for 1-2 minutes. Show him he's your pet and not the other way around.
One caviat. I have a female lesser that's about the same age as your snake, and she's been a biter since day one. She thinks she's a viper. She hisses to the point that the wife questioned what that noise was while in the other room.
Getting bit is just one part of snake ownership. It's going to happen, get used to it. After the first dozen bites or so, you'll realize it's the shock of the strike and the bite isn't all that bad.
Good Luck!
Jim Smith
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