Mel Gibson community service 'a new start'

Mel Gibson's court-ordered community service at a children's charity will be a "brand new start" for the actor, parents have claimed.

The Oscar-winner agreed to spend 16 hours at LA philanthropic organisation Mending Kids as part of a plea bargain in his misdemeanour battery case, which stemmed from an altercation with ex-lover Oksana Grigorieva last year.

According to TMZ, Gibson has already received the seal of approval from several parents connected to the charity, who have willingly overlooked the circumstances of his arrival because of his past devotion to the organisation.

Speaking to the site, James Nicol revealed that Gibson's donations to Mending Kids in recent years had helped pay for numerous medical procedures to fix his foster son's severe spinal issues.

He added: "If Mel was coming over to our house to play ball with my son, I would not be the least bit concerned."

As well as the community service, Gibson was also ordered to attend 52 weeks of counselling sessions at last week's hearing.

Grigorieva is now allegedly planning to revive a civil lawsuit against Gibson, while the actor has reportedly promised to sue his former partner for extortion should her planned legal challenge go ahead.