A bartender who side-swiped four other scooters on rue Grimaldi in September 2018 has escaped with a fine after appearing at Monaco Criminal Court, French language daily Monaco Matin reports.

In an earlier hearing, at which he was absent, the 45 year-old Nice resident had been sentenced to two months in jail, suspended, with the suspicion hanging over proceedings that he had fled the scene because he was over the drink-drive limit.

However, appearing in person on October 15, the defendant found his penalty reduced to 900 euros with a fine of 45 euros. He claimed a bout of dizziness at the time of the incident, during which considerable damage was done to four scooters parked outside 44 rue Grimaldi.

He was traced by video surveillance, the court was told.