Mr Dorn was accused of vandalising the house, which he owned, but which was occupied by squatters.

Mr Dorn began "renovating" his Northbourne Avenue home. He was assisted by three other men.

Using a mattock, pick, sledgehammer and a mallet, they smashed roof tiles, windows, walls and the water main.

At one point Mr Dorn was pulling off the roof-capping tiles while some members of the ACT squatters' union were sitting on them.

Mr Dorn and the workmen were eventually asked by police to leave and seek legal advice.

It was believed they were breaching the peace. Members of the squatters' union said Mr Dorn was merely forcing them to move out.

"I can't sell it in its present state and I can't do what I want with it," he told The Canberra Times.

"I'm upset that they seem to be above the law. I want to live in it or sell it. It's no good as it is."

Visit: trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122470797