A MAN jailed in 1996 for not paying the poll tax has been awarded £10,000 in an out-of-court settlement with the Government.

The case brought by Antony Townsend was struck out of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg after confirmation to the court that lawyers for both sides had agreed the deal.

Mr Townsend had been claiming the lack of legal representation or legal aid in previous court hearings breached his human rights.

Magistrates in Preston found on March 16, 1995, that he had "culpably neglected to pay his community charge", and sentenced him to 48 days imprisonment, which was suspended provided he paid the backlog at a rate of £3 per week.

The community tax, dubbed the poll tax, was introduced by the Thatcher Government in 1990. Mr Townsend was living in Preston at the time, and still lives in Lancashire.

On April 18, 1996, magistrates committed Mr Townsend, in his absence, to prison for failing to pay the community charge, but notice of the hearing was sent to the wrong address.

Two months later magistrates issued a warrant for his arrest, and on June 4, Mr Townsend, 37, gave himself up for arrest and was taken to prison. He was released from prison a week later after his application for permission to apply for judicial review and for bail was granted by the High Court.

On December 12, 1996 the High Court quashed the rulings as the magistrates had failed to conduct a proper enquiry into his means or circumstances, and for failing to ensure he received notice of the hearing on April 18.

The £10,000 settlement, of which £4,000 was for Mr Townsend's costs and expenses, was agreed by both side's lawyers "without prejudice to the issue of a violation of the Convention and with a view to securing a friendly settlement".