69-year-old Luciano Pavesi last Friday pleaded guilty to four charges of malicious damage against the same Renault Traffic van in the Magistrate’s Court.

Presided by Assistant Magistrate Peter Harris, the Court heard that the offences had taken place throughout May and June this year.

After weeks of observing a van driver repeatedly use First Tower School’s car park without a permit, while he and other nearby residents had to pay, Pavesi became “annoyed and frustrated” and resorted to scratching the vehicle. 

In an attempt to catch the perpetrator, a friend of the van driver started to investigate, eventually learning that it was Pavesi. 

He was caught on camera sticking a piece of paper on the window. It turned out to be a letter on ‘States of Jersey’ headed paper purporting to be from the school caretaker. It warned that the car park was private, and that those using it must get permission.

Pictured: The offences took place in the First Tower School car park on La Route de St. Aubin.

But then, in what would have been an unusual move for a real traffic warden, Pavesi selected a key from his pocket, which he then used to score the van.

In total, he admitted causing malicious damage to the van, whose value is unknown, on four occasions: between 18 and 21 May, 25 and 26 May, 4 and 5 June, and on 8 June.

But Advocate Nicole Langlois, defending, explained that this move was not usual for Pavesi, who was of “previously unblemished character.”

She said that the Italian native, who has lived on the island for more than four decades, had been feeling “rather out of sorts” after suffering a small stroke last year, which left him in pain. This, she explained, had likely added to his exasperation. 

Advocate Langlois added that Pavesi – a retired aviation industry worker who now drives a soft top bus in summer – was otherwise an agreeable character, who was “extremely remorseful” for his actions and had apologised to the van driver.

In sentencing, the Assistant Magistrate said he could understand the irritation of watching someone “bucking the system”, but urged him: “Whatever frustration you may feel about parking… report it to the school, but don’t get involved.”

Pavesi was ordered to pay the fine within seven days and was bound over for six months.