JOE PESCI - PESCI CAUGHT UP IN ODD PUNCH-UP SCANDAL

Actor JOE PESCI has been caught up in a bizarre new legal scandal after reportedly thumping a fan who tried to take a photo of the MY COUSIN VINNY star.

Student JUAN CARLOS MONTENEGRO claims the pint-sized actor hit him, after he took a picture in a Boca Raton, Florida shopping mall - and he has reported the incident to police.

But the authorities say they can't be sure if it actually was Pesci who lashed out at Montenegro, and won't be bringing charges against him.

Local shopkeepers back up Montenegro's claims, telling police Pesci visited the shopping centre on the day of the incident.

But despite reporting the incident to police, the 24-year-old student has no plans to pursue the matter.

He says, "I may have got Joe on a bad day."