evoked the wrath of Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner who said he was sick and tired of people taking matters into their own hands.

Sheldon Caisey, 27, of Cedar Park, was fined $600 when he pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon on April 8.

"I want to make it clear to all you young men who threaten to chop up people,'' Mr. Warner said. "This foolishness of settling disputes with this level of violence has got to stop!'' Crown counsel Cindy Clarke told the court that Caisey involved himself in a dispute with another man who was disciplining his step-daughter. Caisey threatened the man verbally and went to retrieve a machete from his home.

When Caisey came back brandishing the weapon, he shouted: "I'll chop you up!'' After the incident, Caisey reported voluntarily to Hamilton Police station, where he admitted possessing the weapon. However he told Mr. Warner he was trying to defend the woman.

"He wasn't disciplining her, he was choking her,'' Caisey said. "I was doing a good deed but it turned bad.'' Mr. Warner replied: "You can't go around acting violently. The fine is $600.''