A man threw oil at the door of upstairs neighbours because he could not stand the noise which they allegedly caused, a court was told today.

Anthony Cutajar, 46 of Fgura, was accused of damaging the neighbours' door by throwing oil at it.

The arguments between the two neighbours continued in court this morning, with a magistrate being forced to call for calm three times.

Prosecuting Inspector Spiridione Zammit aid the accused had been leaving burnt cigarettes on his neighbour's doormat before the oil-throwing incident.

Neighbour Josephine Zammit said she was scared in her own home after she found oil on her door and façade yesterday.

Lawyer Joseph Ellis said this was not a serious incident but an argument between neighbours.

Mr Cutajar said he was the victim, not Ms Zammit.

"I sometimes have had to sleep in my car because they cannot stop banging chairs. I threw oil at her door because I have been putting up with them for years. I have had to leave my home because I'm at wits end."

Ms Zammit said it was not true that a lot of noise was made. She said the damage was not expensive, but she wanted the accused to lave them alone.

Mr Cutajar said he could not continue to live like this. He asked the Magistrate what he was supposed to do.

Magistrate Edwina Grima said that violence was no excuse and if there was a problem, what he had to do was go to the police and file a report.

Mr Cutajar was conditionally discharged for three years.