AN ISLE of Wight man who completed just a single hour of unpaid work in almost three years has been spared an immediate jail term.

Benjamin Raymond Furmidge, of Fort Mews, Sandown, appeared before Isle of Wight magistrates on Tuesday (December 20).

The 34-year-old admitted failing to comply with the requirements of a community order, on November 6 and 13 of this year.

The court heard Furmidge had been made subject of a 12-month community order on February 6, 2020, for assault by beating and a public order offence.

In two years and nine months, he had completed just a single hour of unpaid work – clocked during an induction – with 199 outstanding.

The court heard the order had been extended twice so he could complete the hours.

Henry Farley, defending, said Furmidge – a father of two – had difficulty completing the work due to the Covid-19 pandemic, when there had been ‘no room at the inn’.

He said the extensions were through no fault of his own, but Furmidge accepted he missed two appointments, and was willing and able to do the work.

He described Furmidge as being ‘on the very cliff’s edge’, and magistrates told him he was ‘hanging on by his fingernails’.

For his ‘wilful and persistent non-compliance', Furmidge was handed a six-week jail term, suspended for 12 months, to include 150 hours of unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay costs of £60.