Business student Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien, 19, uploaded a video of himself removing the straw from an iJooz vending machine, licking it and placing it back inside accompanied by the caption “city is not safe”. Following the video going viral the company replaced all 500 straws and had the affected machine sanitized.

Charged with public nuisance Maximilien faced a penalty of up to three months imprisonment, but prosecutors sought a financial penalty citing his young age, early guilty plea and no evidence of harm to the public.