Court warns man who interrupted 20,000 live TV shows
An Italian man who burst onto the screen during 20,000 live TV shows has been told he faces prison if he continues.Over the past few years Gabriele Paolini has been seen popping up besides news reporters in Italy to promote condom use on a regular basis.
Dubbing himself the 'Prophylactic prophet' he has aimed to draw attention to the plight of Aids sufferers since a close friend died from the disease.
But now Italy's Supreme Court has upheld a three-month suspended sentence on Paolini for interrupting a report on the state broadcaster RAI in June 2001.
The court also introduced a rule which says anyone deliberately positioning themselves in the way of a live broadcast in a public place can be commiting an offence even if they are silent and immobile.
Reporters in Milan, some of who have been known to lash out at him in frustration, sometimes on camera, are said to be pleased with the ruling.
