Actor sentenced for firing at fan

Depardieu had his leg amputated in June

French actor Gerard Depardieu's son has been given a nine-month suspended sentence for firing a gun at a fan.

Guillaume Depardieu, 32, was also fined 8,000 euros (£5,650) and ordered to undergo psychological counselling.

The court heard that Mr Depardieu fired the gun after the fan allegedly mocked his clothes while out in the Normandy resort of Trouville.

The actor, who lost a leg after a motorbike crash, denied making threats.

He said he deliberately fired in the air and only wanted to scare away the admirer, because he had just been attacked by five youths.

But prosecutor Philippe Peyroux said at last Tuesday's court hearing there was no proof that such an attack took place.

'Narrow miss'

The incident happened as Depardieu Jnr was out with friends on 22 August.

Fan Daniel Bellaiche said he approached the actor to congratulate him on his work for people who contract illnesses while in hospital.

Father and son starred in the film Tous Les Matins du Monde

He testified that when he went on to pose a further question about his clothes, the actor produced a weapon, aimed at him and only missed because one of his friends pushed his arm away.

Mr Depardieu had his leg amputated in June after it became infected during hospital treatment following a motorcycle crash in 1996.

He has appeared in a number of films, including Tous Les Matins du Monde with his father, and won best male newcomer award at the French annual Cesar awards in 1996.

His sentence was slightly less than that sought by the prosecution, which asked the court for a one-year suspended sentence and a fine of up to 10,000 euros (£7,037).