A man obliterated the white lines of a parking bay in front of his house and replaced them with pot plants, which he then refused to move even after the police ordered him to do so, a court heard yesterday.

George Pace, 55, of St Julians, told the court he placed the plants in front of his house in March 2003 because once a car was parked there he would have difficulty leaving his house.

Police officers had ordered him to remove the plants and take the matter up with the local council. He refused, leaving the police with no option but to take him to court.

Magistrate Audrey Demicoli found Mr Pace guilty of taking the law into his own hands and performing an act reserved only for public officials, and conditionally discharged him for six months.

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