A chauffeur has appeared in court in Monaco charged with drunken driving after hitting a series of bollards adjacent to the Testimonio building site, according to a report in local French daily Monaco Matin.

The man, in his 30s, had enjoyed a little rosé and beer at a restaurant at the Metropole, but felt able to start driving his employer’s car for a handover on the Rock despite being almost three times over the drink-driving limit of 0.25 mg/l.

The court president asked the defendant how his boss had reacted to the limousine being badly damaged, to which he replied that he had lost his job.

He has previous convictions for contempt of court, possession of narcotics, and driving a vehicle without a licence, the court was told. Unable to take away the driver’s French licence, the court imposed a ban of six months on driving within Monaco. He was also fined 700 euros.

PHOTO: Monaco courthouse