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Gerard Depardieu has failed to appear in a French court where he faces a drink-driving charge, days after taking Russian citizenship in a tax row, BBC reported. 

The actor, who was in Montenegro on Tuesday, denied he was a fugitive. He said the trip had been planned and he was ready to face justice "any time."

A late request for an adjournment had been refused by the prosecutor.

Depardieu has signalled he will plead guilty which will probably lead to a fine and a penalty on his licence.

But his absence, and a second postponement of the case, will mean it is sent to the criminal court, where the judges are often less lenient.

He was in Montenegro preparing for a film he will begin shooting shortly and meeting officials.

After talks with Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, he told reporters: "I did not flee judges or justice. The trip to Montenegro had been planned. I notified the court. I am ready to see them any time they like, provided I'm here to defend myself."

The case centres on an incident in November, when Depardieu crashed his scooter in Paris while driving with three times the legal limit of alcohol in his blood.