An Isle of Wight offender could return to prison if he does not pay almost £4,000 worth of court fines dating back nine-and-a-half years.

Joshua Van Praagh, of Howgate Road in Bembridge, attended the IW Magistrates’ Court on Friday, November 8, after he was summoned for an enforcement of payment hearing.

The court heard the 29-year-old has an outstanding court debt of £4,178 - a sum that began accumulating after a conviction nine-and-a-half years ago in April 2015.

Magistrates were told Van Praagh was sentenced to 12 weeks custody at HMP Winchester earlier this year, serving six weeks, after he “wilfully and persistently” flouted a community order.

Van Praagh said he was unaware of how high his debt had reached and wanted to “put it all behind him."

He added that he wants to get the fines paid off “as quick as I can” and aims to keep himself “busy with work” to achieve it.

Magistrates said: “It's a bit of a mess. It’s been going on for nine-and-a-half years, and that cannot carry on.”

Magistrates increased Van Praagh’s monthly payments from £30 to £150.

“You cannot keep sticking your head in the sand, hoping it will go away. You don’t want to go to prison again.

“If you have any other bills, this has to be top priority,” magistrates warned.