$1500 fine for Fair Go assault

Gordon Harcourt. Photo / Supplied

Mt Maunganui company director Alan Spiers has been convicted of punching Fair Go presenter Gordon Harcourt.

Spiers, 47, appeared in the Tauranga District Court yesterday for sentencing on charges of assault and intentional damage. He was ordered to pay $1500 in reparation to Harcourt within the next two weeks.

Spiers attacked Harcourt during filming of a segment for Fair Go's investigation outside Spiers' dealership, Mount Auto Court, on July 29.

Harcourt was left with a black eye, a bleeding nose and a suspected concussion after being punched three times.

In early August, after watching the video of the attack, Harcourt said: "It's interesting, looking at those pictures, I noticed how far away we were from the premises ... We were seconds out of the car and three gentlemen, how can I put it, approached me and my cameraman colleague and the incident ensued ... and during it I received three blows to the face.

"We were in a little bit of a fracas over the camera which one of the gentlemen [was] paying particular attention to, and I was really highly motivated not to let him get the camera."

Harcourt said they were merely seeking to film on public property.

"I wasn't setting foot on this guy's property, I had no intention of doing so, we were approached from a significant distance from the premises in question."

Harcourt said the publicity over the incident had made the story, intended to illustrate "irresponsible lending", "much, much bigger" than it was.