A French influencer known as Amine Mojito real name Ilan M. has been sentenced to prison for a series of disturbing prank videos in which he jabbed unsuspecting people with empty syringes on the streets of Paris.

The Paris Criminal Court on Friday, October 3, sentenced the 27-year-old to 12 months in prison, with six months to be served in custody and the remaining six suspended. He was also fined €1,500 ($1,761) and banned from possessing or carrying a firearm for three years.

Mojito’s viral videos, filmed shortly before France’s Fête de la Musique (World Music Day) in June, caused widespread panic amid circulating rumors of needle attacks at festivals and parties.

The court convicted him of “violence with a weapon not resulting in work incapacity.” Prosecutors had sought a harsher sentence, calling him a “public menace.” Victims testified that the stunts left them terrified, fearing possible infection or attack.

Defending himself, Mojito claimed he never intended harm, saying he copied similar internet pranks seen in Spain and Portugal.

“I didn’t think it could hurt people. That was my mistake I didn’t think of others, I thought of myself,” he told the court, as reported by Libération.

He said the videos were meant to revive his social media career and promote a fitness program, after what he described as a “brief period” of online fame.