A man who once starred on television soap Neighbours has been found guilty of making a gesture that resembled a Nazi salute.

Damien Richardson, 56, was charged with performing a Nazi salute at a restaurant in Melbourne's southeast in September 2024, while he was delivering a speech.

Video of the gesture was played to Moorabbin Magistrates Court as Richardson faced a two-day contested hearing this week.

His lawyer Peter Monagle argued the gesture was performed for genuine "artistic or theatrical purposes", and claimed the restaurant was closed so it was not a public place.

However, Richardson was on Friday found guilty of performing a gesture that "resembles a Nazi salute" in a public place.

Magistrate Justin Foster found the gesture was not performed for artistic, theatrical or academ

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