A CASTEL constable who was prosecuted privately for work he did for the parish received the full backing of his douzaine yesterday.

On Wednesday a formal Petty Debts Court judgement was awarded against Deputy Barry Paint (pictured), who is also a douzenier, for damage caused to Steve Ogier’s van while he oversaw it being moved with a tractor in a Cobo car park.

A spokesman for the constables and douzaine said they accepted the decision of assistant-Magistrate Cherry McMillen to award £200 in damages to Mr Ogier.

‘We do of course regret that at the plaintiff’s insistence, the case was as a private individual,’ said the spokesman.

The constables and douzaine wished to make it clear that Deputy Paint had had their full support throughout.

‘We would point out that Mr Ogier was offered a settlement of £200 before the matter was taken to court, but he refused it and had sought a claim for damages of £750.’

For Deputy Paint, Advocate Mark Dunster had argued that Mr Ogier should have actioned the constables and douzaine as a body. But Miss McMillen said there was nothing to support that in law and Mr Ogier was within his rights to make his claim against an individual.