An angry worker staged a "theatrical fall" in a warehouse and claimed he had hurt his knee.
Driver Nathaniel Smart made a phone call to chase a personal injury payout - and that landed him in court.
But city magistrates gave him an absolute discharge after hearing that he made only one call to a law firm and did nothing more after sobering up. It means no further action will be taken against him.
Michaela Dunk, mitigating, said Smart only did it because of an overtime dispute at Hyperama where he worked. He was dismissed.
She told the city court: "He got angry, said he had hurt a knee and called a national claims hotline.
"He does nothing else. He does not sign a form for the solicitor. The solicitor went ahead without consultation and submitted a claim form.
"It was a silly mistake where he accepts it is due to the level of his intoxication.
"He did this simply out of frustration at the way he was treated," said Miss Dunk, for Smart, 38, of Robin Hood Chase, St Ann's.
He pleaded guilty to committing fraud on July 18 last year by making a false representation that he tripped and injured himself and made a claim for personal injuries against QBE Insurance.
Anna Pierrepont, prosecuting, said Smart lost a driving job because of his "poor attitude and performance".
He was seen taking "a large piece of bubble wrap" from a storage area and placing it on the walkway.
Miss Pierrepont went on: "He was seen to walk towards the warehouse and was seen kneeling on his right knee.
"There was a theatrical fall and he received first aid from a member of staff. He said he had injured a knee.
"There was a fraud investigation which showed it was clearly not an accident but was rather staged."
When the claim arrived at the insurance company, officials said the payout could have reached £5,000. Smart was unaware of the possible figure.
When questioned, Smart told police that he only decided to phone the claims hotline "after a heavy drinking session," added Miss Pierrepont.
