An American tourist was caught on camera “purposefully” throwing her rental scooter down Rome’s iconic Spanish Steps causing £21,000 worth of damage.
The 28-year-old woman was filmed chucking the electric scooter down the final few steps of the Italian landmark.
She was banned from returning to the 18th-century marble staircase alongside her 29-year-old male companion who had also carried his scooter down.
They were both fined €400 each when police caught up with them.
Local police said on Facebook: “For the woman the complaint for monumental damage was also triggered, because she purposely launched the scooter. Further findings from the Capitol Superintendent will ascertain the exact amount of damages.”
The Spanish Steps were immortalised in Roman Holiday when journalist Joe Bradley, played by Gregory Peck, tells Audrey Hepburn’s Princess Ann that she is to have a holiday, and to take the whole day off.
It came just weeks after a visitor from Saudi Arabia drove a Maserati down the tourist hotspot.
In 2021 two tourists from the US were fined after sneaking into the Colosseum to crack open a cold beer.
The pair, aged 24 and 25, were spotted hanging out in the second tier of the ancient gladiator stadium by locals who reported the break in to police.
In 2014 , semi-naked French tourists were caught frolicking in a fountain in Rome before being interrupted by police.
Footage showed the six holding hands and splashing late at night in the Piazza Madonna Dei Monti in the Italian capital.