Judge Paul Conlon imposed the maximum sentence available to him on James Joseph Elphick in Wollongong District Court today following the frenzied assault on February 11.

Bus driver Ian Chalmers, bloodied and dazed, battled for nearly a kilometre to maintain control of his bus as he was repeatedly kicked in the back of the head by Elphick.

WARNING: This video is extremely violent and is suitable for mature audiences only

The offences were committed about 11pm on February 11 this year - the night of the Anthony Mundine-Shannan Taylor boxing match, and less than two months after Elphick was released from jail for unrelated matters.

Elphick was the last person on Mr Chalmers' Wollongong-Warilla bus and became aggressive when the driver refused to drop him home after he fell asleep and missed his stop.

When Elphick began kicking the driver to the back of the head, Mr Chalmers accelerated the bus to throw him off balance.

Mr Chalmers nearly lost consciousness from what he described as "endless blows".

The kicks were so forceful they forced Mr Chalmers to veer several times onto the wrong side of the road.

Elphick had pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and affray, and today Judge Conlon imposed a maximum two-year jail sentence, with a non-parole period of 18 months.

He said Elphick deserved a harsher sentence, however he was restricted in sentencing due to an oversight in charging procedures.

< b>For full coverage see Thursday's Mercury.