A SERVING police officer and his wife put forward her sister’s partner as an “independent expert” to support their defence in a county court action brought against them by a builder.

Mark and Ann Joughin are also accused of advancing other misleading information during the case in the small claims hearing at Durham County Court, in March 2012.

The civil case was brought by Andrew Radford, whose construction company provided labour for a barn conversion and “new build”, on land owned by Mark and Ann Joughin, in Satley, near Lanchester, County Durham, in 2008/9.

Mr Radford told Durham Crown Court he was initially contacted by Mr Joughin on the recommendation of a fellow Northumbria Police officer for whom he had previously worked.

But, after problems emerged with the fabric of the building, following the cold winter of 2009/10, Radford Construction Services carried out remedial work worth £3,088.

The Joughins refused to pay, claiming it was their original shoddy work to blame.

They provided “independent expert” evidence from a Craig Ginn, said to run a Kent restoration company.

Giving evidence on the second day of the Joughin’s crown court trial for allegedly perverting the course of justice at the county court hearing, Mr Radford said his partner, Michelle Patterson, discovered that the “independent” expert, Mr Ginn, was also an actor, and partner of Ann Joughin’s sister.

District Judge Nicholas Goudie, who presided over the county court case, said Mr Joughin was asked how he chose Mr Ginn as an expert and replied: “We did an internet search and he seemed to have the right credentials.”

Mr Joughin, 48, and 43-year-old Mrs Joughin, of Satley, both deny two charges of doing an act tending to, and intended to, pervert the course of justice.

The case continues.