A magistrate yesterday found two parents guilty of damaging a car but noted that their primary concern was to protect their daughter.

A woman inside the car was accused of harassing the girl and a court had ordered her not to go to the Marsascala street where the girl lived.

Magistrate Carol Peralta said the accused were anxious and their actions were motivated by their desire to protect their daughter.

The names of the accused are being withheld to protect the identity of the daughter.

The incident happened on January 31, 2010.

When the woman was seen in the car, the police were called but the girl’s father arrived before them, an argument ensued and the car was damaged.

Magistrate Peralta conditionally discharged the mother for three months and the father for a year after he was found guilty of relapsing.

Police inspector Jesmond Borg prosecuted while lawyers Michael and Lucio Schiriha represented the pair.