Darlington-based vehicle hire company Northgate Plc said its chief finance officer Paddy Gallagher has been summarily dismissed “due to his conviction for the summary offence of common assault.”

Northgate said: “Whilst the conviction relates to Mr Gallagher’s personal life, solely as a result of this conviction, the board considers Mr Gallagher’s position is untenable.”

David Tilston has been appointed as interim chief finance officer.

Tilston was formerly the interim group CFO of Consort Medical plc from December 2016 to April 2017, group finance director of Innovia Group plc from March 2012 to March 2015 and is currently a non-executive director of Scientific Digital Marketing Imaging plc.