A New South Wales councillor has faced court accused of driving his car into another vehicle during a dispute with a neighbour earlier this year.
Snowy Monaro Regional Councillor Andrew Thaler has been charged with five offences, including knowingly driving a vehicle in a manner menacing to others and negligent driving.
Police allege the 53-year-old had a verbal argument with a neighbour on Kirke Street at Nimmitabel on the evening of April 16.
Court documents reveal Mr Thaler then allegedly drove his car into his neighbours’ empty parked vehicle later that night, damaging both the front and rear bumpers of the car.
No-one was injured in the incident, which is alleged to have caused between $2,000 and $5,000 worth of damage.
His neighbour also applied for an apprehended violence order against Mr Thaler this morning.
Andrew Thaler appeared in the Cooma Local Court. (ABC News)
Mr Thaler faced Cooma Local Court this morning, supported by his wife, and appeared confident and relaxed inside the courtroom.
Mr Thaler’s lawyer Mark Davis indicated his client would likely fight the charges, and that he would oppose any application for an apprehended violence order against his client.
“There has been AVOs across that road for as long as I have been in Cooma,” Judge Roger Clisdell told the court.
Mr Davis jokingly told the court that the number of AVOs involving Cr Thaler and his neighbours “may be an Australian record”.
Mr Thaler will face court again in Cooma on August 5 for the driving charges.
The next date for the AVO application will be in Cooma on August 20.
