Out of around 30,000 residents in the tiny state with an exceptionally low crime rate on the border of northern Italy only one man has committed a crime worthy of a prison sentence - and so he spends his days alone.



The lonely man, who is serving time for domestic violence charges, has all of the prison's facilities to himself as well as meals from a nearby restaurant. However, his only contact is from prison guards and occasional visits from family.



San Marino's only prisoner is allowed out for an hour each day for an exercise break and gets to have the prison's library, gym and TV room all to himself as he serves the rest of his 8 month sentence.



However, at some point this week the prisoner's quiet life will come to an end as be joined by a new inmate at the small 6 cell facility, which was once rammed with 14 prisoners back in 2009.