Name: Former soap star Damien Richardson avoids jail for Nazi gesture
Uploaded: 2025-12-19T06:26:23.319Z
Duration: 1 min 32 s
Description: A former Neighbours star has avoided jail time for performing a Nazi gesture. Damien Richardson has been ordered to pen an apology and visit a Holocaust museum to make amends.

A former Neighbours star has avoided jail time for performing a Nazi gesture. Damien Richardson has been ordered to pen an apology and visit a Holocaust museum to make amends.

Melbourne

Damien Richardson, a former actor, was found guilty of intentionally performing a banned gesture at a Melbourne restaurant, which could be interpreted as a Nazi salute. The court heard arguments about his intent, with his lawyer stating he did not mean to offend Jewish communities, while the magistrate questioned his understanding of the gesture's significance.

A Holocaust historian testified that Richardson's action did not demonstrate loyalty to Hitler, and the magistrate linked the incident to a broader rise in anti-Semitic behavior. Richardson was sentenced to a 12-month restorative justice program, including therapy, community apologies, and museum visits, and he agreed to comply with the court's orders.

Former soap star Damien Richardson avoids jail for Nazi gesture

He's used to performing in front of the cameras, but Damien Richardson shied away from the microphone today. Damien, are you satisfied with the result? The former actor avoided jail after being found guilty of intentionally performing a banned gesture that could be confused with a Nazi salute at a restaurant last year. His lawyer claimed the 56-year-old never intended to malign Jewish communities in Australia and understood the significance of the gesture, but magistrate Justin Foster questioned this reading an online post he had made prior to the last court date. It is massively disappointing. I still don't think you truly get it. A Holocaust historian ultimately deemed the gesture was not a Nazi salute because Mr Richardson had not demonstrated any affiliation, obedience or loyalty to Hitler. If he had any loyalty to Hitler, I would have had absolutely no apprehension in sending him out the side door. The magistrate made a point of linking Mr Richardson's Nazi gesture to the continued spate of anti-Semitic behaviour over the past two years, including Sunday's attack at Bondi. Mr Richardson was handed a 12-month restorative justice program in which he must undertake 10 sessions of psychological therapy, apologise to the Jewish community and visit Melbourne's Jewish and Holocaust museums. Are you going to carry out the program in full? He gave an undertaking to the court that he would. Anything you'd like to say instead of your lawyer? Sam Mills, 10 News.

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