French ‘Spider-Man’ Anthony Andolfo escapes massive fine after scaling 56-storey building in Melbourne CBD

A daredevil who brought Melbourne CBD to a standstill as he scaled a 56-storey building without safety gear has escaped a massive fine after spending time in prison lock-up.

French ‘Spider-Man’ Anthony Andolfo celebrated his 30th birthday in prison lockup among some of Victoria’s most dangerous crooks as the daredevil plans to flee Australia after escaping a massive fine.

The climber, who brought Melbourne’s CBD to a standstill last week as he scaled a 56-storey building, has been lashed by a magistrate who rejected his antics as just adrenaline-seeking, but rather a dangerous bid for notoriety.

“There are plenty of mountains in the world to climb Mr Andolfo, I would suggest you restrict your climbing adventures to natural terrain,” Magistrate Jonathan Klestadt said as he sentenced the French national to seven days jail, which he’d already served.

That’s despite his defence lawyer conceding a “significant financial penalty” was in range.

Held at Victoria’s maximum security Port Phillip Prison – which houses some of the state’s worst murderers, thugs and drug fiends – the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court heard he’d had a “quite stressful time in custody”.

French ‘Spider-Man’ Anthony Andolfo celebrated his 30th birthday in lockup after he was arrested for scaling a 56-storey building in Melbourne CBD. Picture: Trent_Theo/Instagram

Andolfo’s 30th birthday on Monday was spent in jail – his first time behind bars anywhere in the world – with his past seven days spent being moved between Melbourne Custody Centre, Melbourne Assessment Prison and then Port Phillip.

His Legal Aid defence lawyer Michael Haralambous said Andolfo’s first jailhouse experience had a “very significant impact on him”.

The French boilermaker, who pleaded guilty to charges of trespass and reckless conduct endangering serious injury, had been in Australia for 12-months before he scaled the A’Beckett St building on his final day in the country on February 6, while his accomplice filmed on a drone.

Mr Haralambous said his client wanted to “have that moment of tranquillity only achieved by climbing a very great height”.

“He wasn’t chasing fame, he wasn’t chasing notoriety, he was chasing the experience of climbing a building,” the defence lawyer said.

Anthony Andolfo was hauled out of the same building he scaled by police after scaling 56-levels. Picture: 9NEWS.

The court heard the daredevil climbed over the 9th level balcony at the Avani building before he clambered 56-storeys in 26 minutes with no safety equipment and “no regard for the safety or welfare” of others, before he was hauled onto the rooftop by police.

Magistrate Klestadt asked if he wasn’t chasing notoriety, why his dangerous expedition was being filmed.

Mr Haralambous claimed it was to “analyse the technique” of his climbing and share that with other climbers.

His Honour rejected that claim, finding his filming of the stunt “shows that it was for the purpose at least in part of self promotion, self aggrandisement and the enhancement of your reputation amongst people who engage in similar risk taking behaviour in public places”.

“It will not be regarded as a prank or youthful hijinks or anything else other than extremely risky conduct,” His Honour said.

He noted that “nobody engaging in risky endeavours, be they illegal or illegal, is invincible – accidents happen, misjudgements are made, and if you had been unsuccessful in reaching the 56th floor, you yourself would likely have been killed or seriously injured and any other person that you interact with would likely have met the same fate”.

The French national brought Melbourne CBD to a stop earlier this month with his dare devil climb without safety equipment. Picture: Trent_Theo/Instagram

“It is risk taking. the consequences of which cannot be ignored.”

Mr Klestadt sentenced him to seven-days jail, of which he’d already served eight days, with his release from jail expected later on Tuesday

Andolfo had been in Australia on a working holiday visa for 12-months, working in dairy farms, trade sites and travelling.

He plans to flee the country - which he may not be able to return to given he copped a conviction - to meet his sister in Panama on a flight that he’d booked a day after his arrest.

Accomplice Hugo Frohlinger, a 25-year-old French national who filmed the escapade on a drone, earlier pleaded guilty to public nuisance and was fined $3000.

Andolfo’s Victorian lock up marks his first ever jailing, with his only other brush with the law being his arrest by French police for scaling a building, before he was released after 30-minutes with no charge

Originally published as French ‘Spider-Man’ Anthony Andolfo escapes massive fine after scaling 56-storey building in Melbourne CBD