A MAN who attacked two former girlfriends, a puppy and a policeman has been lucky to escape jail.

Joseph Bray was told that he should have gone to prison when he appeared before Huddersfield magistrates yesterday.

But instead magistrates handed him a community order to give him the chance to sort out his drink and anger management issues.

The string of attacks carried out by the 21-year-old began on August 1 when he assaulted his then girlfriend Kayleigh Siswick at her home on Reinwood Avenue in Oakes.

He lost his temper when she accused him of cheating and grabbed hold of Miss Siswick – then 10 weeks pregnant – by the arm causing her some injury.

Bray then attacked his new girlfriend Lauren Innes on December 20 while he was on bail for the first assault.

At her home on Manchester Road he punched and kicked her young puppy.

As Miss Innes begged him to stop he grabbed her by the throat and pinned her up against the wall.

Bray, of Illingworth in Halifax, then turned on one of the police officers called to the property.

He punched and kicked Pc Rob Hinchliffe on the leg and chest and then bit the officer on his biceps.

A previous hearing was told that Bray became aggressive through drink and that alcohol was the cause of his offending.

He also complained that he had not liked his brief spell on remand for the offences at Doncaster Prison as he had been bullied.

Magistrates heard that Bray had previous convictions for assault on his record.

His solicitor Mike Sisson-Pell told them: “These show that this young man has resorted to violence and clearly has a problem with his temper.

“This needs to be addressed.

“He’s spent time in custody and that was a shock to the system.”

Magistrates gave Bray a two-year community order with supervision.

This includes 100 hours of unpaid work and 50 hours of a high intensity activity requirement designed to address his issues.

He was also ordered to pay £50 compensation to his two female victims and £100 to the police officer.

Finally, magistrates issued a restraining order banning Bray from contacting Miss Siswick except via a third party to arrange contact with his unborn child.

The bench warned him that he faces prison if he failed to comply with any part of the order.