A former Isle of Wight man, who was previously jailed for three years for a racially aggravated assault in Newport, will pay £15 a month towards his £2,000 court debts.

Joshua Ben Parker, of Botley Road, Southampton, attended the Isle of Wight Magistrates’ Court on Friday, September 13.

The 31-year-old was summoned to court for a fines enforcement meeting, with £2,096 owed to the court due to his past convictions.

Parker, then 29, was handed a 40-month jail sentence in October 2022 for a racially aggravated assault by beating in Newport in February earlier that year.

Taking to the stand, Parker explained he had been released from prison in May – after serving approximately half of his prison term – and had not yet been able to pay off his debts.

Parker said he received the letter from the court and called to explain that he “cannot even buy food,” after finding it difficult to find work following his release.

He told magistrates: “I want to pay a certain amount a week or month. I want to get it done, but I don’t have any money.”

Parker offered to pay £15 a month toward his court debts.

Explaining his financial position, Parker said he has to pay bills, including rent and utility, which leaves him with around £200 of his Universal Credit each month. 

Parker’s debts to the court date back to February 27, 2017.

He said: “I was running around being stupid back then, and it all totalled up.”

Magistrates told Parker that they appreciate that he has spent time in prison and has not had the means to pay since.

It was agreed that Parker could pay £15 a month towards his £2,096 debt, which will take him 140 months or 11-and-a-half years to pay off.