A POLICE officer and his wife walked free from court after being cleared of charges relating to allegedly misleading information put forward in a civil case in which they were involved.

Mark Walter Joughin, 48, and his 43-year-old wife, Ann Joughin, each denied two counts of doing acts tending, or intended to pervert the course of justice.

The charges were brought after a complaint was made over information supplied in a small claims hearing staged at Durham County Court, in March 2012.

Builder Andrew Radford brought the claim against the Joughins over an unpaid bill for more than £3,000 for remedial work his construction company carried out in 2010 on a new build and barn conversion on land behind their home in the small rural village of Satley, near Lanchester, County Durham.

The couple refused to pay as they claimed Mr Radford was responsible for the state of the building and should meet the cost himself.

But in support of their case to the small claims hearing they put forward a statement supplied by an “independent expert”, Craig Ginn, who runs a building restoration business in Kent.

The Joughins said they chose him, rather than a local expert, after carrying out an internet search and discovering Mr Ginn had “the right credentials” they were looking for to back their argument.

Mr Radford’s subsequently partner discovered, however, that Mr Ginn was the then partner, and subsequently was married to Mrs Joughin’s older sister, Lynn.

A district judge found against the Joughins at the county court hearing and they were left to pay the £3,000-plus bill to Mr Radford.

But, following Mr Radford’s complaint about the information supplied to the small claims hearing they have undergone a trial, at Durham Crown Court, over the allegations of perverting the course of justice.

Giving evidence during the seven-day hearing, Mrs Joughin said she did consider Mr Ginn “an independent expert”, because he was “professional” and his report contained information she said was proved to be accurate.

When it was put to her that he could hardly be considered “independent”, given the family relationship, she said she considered this “irrelevant”, as he had submitted a valid report.

Mr Joughin opted not to give evidence in the trial.

Following two-and-a-half hours’ deliberation the jury today (Thursday October 23) returned not guilty verdicts on all four counts.

Recorder Charles Ekins discharged the Joughins and made a defendants’ costs order in their favour.

*Mr Joughin has remained suspended from his job as a constable with Northumbria Police since the charges were brought.

Following the verdicts, a force spokesman said tonight (Thursday October 23): “We expect the highest standards of our officers at all times.

“We will consider the outcome of the case and a decision will be taken in due course as to whether any further internal action will be taken.”