HE has a staggering 263 criminal convictions to his name.
But Clinford Joseph was spared jail by magistrates in Huddersfield when he notched up another court appearance, despite attacking a bus driver.
Joseph, of Waterloo Rise, Waterloo, punched the driver twice to the face after boarding his vehicle.
His latest in a long line of an astonishing list of convictions was revealed to Kirklees magistrates yesterday.
And the alcoholic’s solicitor said that the 30-year-old faced death if he didn’t overcome his battle with drink.
Joseph is still some way behind Britain’s most prolific criminal.
The unknown man has clocked up 567 convictions so far – with another eight people each having collected more than 300 convictions.
But Joseph is believed to be one of the most prolific offenders in the region.
The court was told that Joseph attacked bus driver John Bell on July 29.
Marina Hunter-Grey, prosecuting, said that Joseph is subject to a lifetime ban from buses in Huddersfield because of previous incidents.
But he drunkenly boarded Mr Bell’s bus and when the driver tried to call police, Joseph attacked him.
Ms Hunter-Grey said: “Without any warning he punched the driver twice to his head.
“This caused the driver to fall backwards towards the side of the cab.
“He was not driving at the time but this was witnessed by a number of passengers.”
Magistrates were told that Mr Bell suffered from pain and discomfort following the attack.
Joseph was arrested and admitted in interview that he was drunk and believed the driver had been “mouthy” towards him.
The court heard that earlier in the month, on July 18, he had damaged a window belonging to his elderly father Western.
Joseph was witnessed throwing a brick through the living room window by neighbours who alerted police.
He admitted to police that out of frustration he threw the brick when he couldn’t get into the locked house, which he shares with his father.
Magistrates were told that Joseph was arrested the evening before his court appearance.
He was kept in police cells overnight for being drunk and disorderly.
The offences were committed while he was subject to a conditional discharge for previous offences.
At yesterday’s hearing Joseph had to be constantly warned about his interruptions by his solicitor and magistrates.
Neil Murphy, mitigating, said that his client had struggled with his alcohol problem for years.
He said that Joseph’s father, also described as an alcoholic, only allowed him into the house when he had benefits money.
Mr Murphy said that Joseph had recently almost died and ended up on a life support machine because of his health problems.
He said: “He has the constitution of an ox at the moment, but if he doesn’t sort out his drinking he will be dead.
“He’s struggled for a number of years with problems. Drink is his only solace and ultimately it will kill him.
“But if this assault had been more serious he would go to prison.
“The bus driver is entitled to carry out his job without people like Clinford getting agitated and hitting him.”
Mr Murphy described Joseph’s only light at the end of the tunnel as being a community-based penalty.
Magistrates agreed, but warned him that he will be sent to prison if he continues his behaviour.
They gave Joseph a community order for 12 months, which includes an alcohol treatment requirement.
The bench also ordered him to pay £100 compensation to the bus driver.
