ORANGE investment adviser Michael Thomas Dare this week had his slate wiped clean with the District Court overturning a conviction against him, ending 15 months of legal proceedings.
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Just four days before Christmas in 2006, Mr Dare's world fell apart when he was one of three local men charged by police for allegedly using menace towards bankrupt Orange businessman Graham Huckel.
The charges related to an alleged effort to recover money from Mr Huckel, in connection with the failed ELM Financial Services.
The case was adjourned multiple times, with Mr Dare finally being convicted in late October on a single criminal charge of intimidation with intent to cause fear.
But his appeal in the District Court in Orange this week has overturned that conviction.
The appeal hearing on Monday lasted barely an hour with the charge being dismissed after the original evidence was reviewed.
Mr Dare, 40, had consistently maintained his innocence throughout the long-running court process and had pleaded not guilty at all times.
He was out of the country on business in Fiji when his appeal was heard but issued a short statement yesterday through his solicitor Mason Manwaring.
“Initially, he wants to say he is feeling absolute relief and in his mind, justice has finally been done,” Mr Manwaring said.
Mr Dare will be back in court in Orange within days, as he plans to ask to have his legal costs directed to be paid by NSW Police following his successful appeal.
It is understood these costs run into tens of thousands of dollars.
In Orange Local Court last August, Magistrate Brian Maloney made reference to the continuing monetary impact on Mr Dare from the lengthy case.
“Ten appearances is not good enough, and it's costing him [Dare] money. Every time he's here, the flag fall goes down and the meter starts running,” Mr Maloney said.
Of the other two men initially charged by police over the Huckel matter, a charge of intimidation faced by John Henry Swain, 73, of Woods Lane, has previously been dismissed.
Graeme John Sloan, 54, who was also charged over the alleged incident of intimidation, died last year.
Meanwhile, it is not yet known if Mr Dare will now return to his former high profile in the Orange community.
When first charged, he had been a board member of the Orange Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and was also involved in a number of racing and charitable fundraising groups, but he stepped down at the time, saying he wanted to prevent any adverse publicity for those organisations.
