A man was this morning fined €400 after he was found guilty on appeal of taking the law into his own  hands.

Edward Cassar, 59, had in October 2009 been acquitted of forcing his wife to return a diamond watch, which he had bought for Lm5,000 but which has since appreciated in value to €17,000.

Mr Cassar saw his wife wearing the watch when she went to the matrimonial home in Wardija on June 9, 2009, to collect some stuff.

In his judgement, Mr Justice Michael Mallia told Mr Cassar that if he wanted the watch, he should have taken the matter to the Civil Court.