AC/DC drug bust

Phil Rudd, real name Phillip Hugh Norman Witschke Rudzevecuis, Drummer for AC/DC - was fined $250 and ordered to pay costs of $133 in Tauranga District Court, New Zealand, after police searched his boat in October and found 25g of cannabis.

The 56-year-old’s lawyer had asked for his client to be discharged because a court conviction could affect his job.

Craig Tuck, defending, said: “My client has travelled to more than 20 countries in the past nine months as the drummer in one of the biggest rock bands in the world. Any drug conviction could impact his ability to enter some countries.

“He travels extensively around the globe and on the basis of such criminality, which is low level offending, he is being targeted.”

Rudd is the only Australian-born member of AC/DC. He joined in 1975 and was fire in 1983 after the death of original singer Bon Scott cause him to enter a spiral of drug addiction. He rejoined in 1994 after the band admitted their sound was lacking spirit without him.