A man chose to pay more than $1,000 in fines over jail time after he failed to complete a community service order.

Maurice Harvey, 54, appeared on a warrant in Magistrates’ Court after he failed to report to court services over an earlier community service order.

The court heard that Harvey accrued 15 parking tickets from as far back as 2021, resulting in more than $1,125 in fines owed to the court.

He was previously ordered to complete community service in place of paying the fines.

However, senior magistrate Maxanne Anderson learnt of an earlier order that had been made last May, which stated he must complete 100 hours of community service by June 20, 2025 or be jailed for 100 days.

Harvey told the court that he had been unable to work because of a combination of health problems and personal demands.

However, Ms Anderson said that he had failed to complete his hours before his problems had started.

She ordered Harvey to pay $1,125 in fines or serve 100 days in jail. He opted to pay the fines.

Ms Anderson further ordered him to complete the remainder of his community service hours by July 6.

• UPDATE: this article has been corrected to show that rather than being jailed for 100 days, as earlier reported, Harvey would be ordered to serve the time if he did not pay $1,125 in fines, and that he opted to pay the fines

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