A Clevedon man who admitted assault and impressed a judge by attending court in the coronavirus pandemic has been spared immediate custody.
Joshua Parker-Stokes pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm on James Ostle in September last year.
Bristol Crown Court heard the offence occurred in Weston-super-Mare.
Parker-Stokes, 25, of Mantle Close, Clevedon, admitted wrongdoing in March and had his sentence deferred for six months.
Today (September 28) Judge William Hart handed him a nine months prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.
He told Parker-Stokes: "You were subject to a community order at the time.
"I gave you a chance.
"You were one of the defendants who turned up at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, in person, to face the music.
"You had the courage to face up to whatever the sentence might have been.
"I gave you a chance.
"You have not re-offended and it is over a year since you last re-offended."
Judge Hart told Parker-Stokes to stay out of trouble and handed him up to 30 days' rehabilitation.
He added: "I hope you know you are at the beginning of staying out of trouble rather than achieving an end result.
"If it all falls apart you'll end up going to jail and you know what that's like.
"We'll meet again if you fail."
Nadeem Aullybocus, defending, said: "He has matured. He has found employment."
