French President Nicolas Sarkozy has apologised to a female police officer after his teenage son hurled a tomato at her as she patrolled the grounds of the Elysee Palace.
Louis Sarkozy, 15, and an unidentified friend lobbed the fruit missile, and a marble, which hit the officer on the cheek, last week.
The officer filed an official criminal report, which was dropped after the President intervened.
Louis is the son of Sarkozy’s second wife, Cecelia Attias. He has two older sons and recently became a father for the fourth time after wife Carla Bruni gave birth to baby Guilia in November last year.
The tomato incident is likely to be embarrassing for Mr Sarkozy as he fights to be relected.
A Paris police source said: "The fact there is an election campaign in progress clearly played a significant role in the complaint not proceeding.
"It may well have been hushed up to save Mr Sarkozy embarrassment. These were not childish pranks – Louis is 15-years-old."