Gibson 'escapes jail time in battery case'

Mel Gibson has escaped jail time in his misdemeanour battery case.

The actor - who was facing the charge as a result of an altercation with ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva - pleaded no contest in a Los Angeles court on Friday afternoon as part of a plea bargain reached with prosecutors.

According to TMZ, the "West Plea" entered by Gibson allowed him to maintain his innocence and avoid time behind bars.

However, the deal will require him to perform 16 hours of community service with a philanthropic organisation - Mending Kids - and undergo 52 weeks of counselling.

Gibson is also instructed to only have "peaceful contact" with Grigorieva, a stipulation which already existed under his family law custody case.