THE CASE against a former hotel owner who allegedly failed to keep his property safe on the Isle of Wight has been thrown out.

Stephen Purvis, 41, of Windlestone, Ferryhill, County Durham, was due to appear before the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court yesterday (Tuesday) but his case has been dropped and his costs are being assessed.

Mr Purvis was charged with being a body failing to comply with a Community Protection Notice (CPN) against the Ocean Hotel on Sandown Esplanade.

Up until May 31 this year, Mr Purvis had been a shareholder and director of Phoenix Commercial Property Developments (PCPD) who owned the freehold of the Ocean Hotel.

It was alleged that at July 12, no action on the CPN had been completed, started or even attempted.

The Isle of Wight Magistrates Court today (Wednesday) confirmed the case has been discontinued, with Mr Purvis' costs to be assessed.

A CPN warning was first issued against the Ocean Hotel and its owners on May 12 by Hampshire Constabulary, giving them a month to comply with the warning.

Nothing had happened, so in June the warning turned into an official notice, which, if ignored, would be a criminal offence to breach.

After its deadline in July, Hampshire Constabulary confirmed it was summoning the owners of Ocean Hotel to court to answer the breach.

Mr Purvis had been due in court to hear the charge in September but was not present.

A second date was set for yesterday but the case has been discontinued.

Hampshire Constabulary has been contacted for a comment.