Car dealer avoids conviction

A car dealer from Christchurch has avoided an assault conviction thanks to his involvement with two charity organisations.

Nigel Terrance William Thompson who owns Nigel Thompson Motor Company in Christchurch, assaulted a man after a collision on St Asaph Street on January 13 this year.

Thanks to Thompson's work with Bros for Change - an organisation where he mentors at-risk youth, and the work he does as a board member for the Salisbury Street foundation, which assists parolees reintegration back into the community - he has avoided an assault conviction. 

According to information from the court case, Johnson has a long list of criminal offences, mainly relating to fraud, and has been through the Salisbury Street Foundation's rehabilitation scheme, himself.

However, he was 15 years conviction-free prior to the incident.

Judge Brian Callaghan at the Christchurch District Court said the consequences of a conviction would outweigh the seriousness of the offence.

Thompson was ordered to pay $948 for damage to the victim's vehicle when Thompson pushed him into the car door and another $1,000 for emotional harm.