claimed she wrongly retained his deposit.

The PLP's Shadow Health Minister rented out a three bedroom apartment in Warwick to Hugh Mason and two other tenants last April.

Mr. Mason claims he paid $1,100 as a deposit on the property -- but was only given $50 back when he left the house at the end of last year.

But yesterday magistrate Edward King dismissed Mr. Mason's claim that he should have had his deposit returned in full.

He said that, because Mr. Mason did not return the keys to the apartment until January 7 and had also left various items in the flat, Ms Webb was within her rights to charge an extra week's rent and deduct $564 from the deposit total.

And he also backed her claim that she had had to spend money to clean out the flat and dispose of some of Mr. Mason's possessions.

Mr. Mason also argued that a carpet in the flat was already stained when he moved in, but Ms Webb produced a receipt showing that it had been brand new.

Giving his judgment Mr. King said: "I reject the plaintiff's contention that the carpet was stained when he moved in and in these circumstances I dismiss the plaintiff's claim in total.''