Tourist stuck after St Pat's beer and bong bender
THE luck of the Irish was not with an American tourist who missed his flight home yesterday and spent a night in the cells after going on a St Patricks' Day bender on his last day in Cairns.
Drinking beer all day at PJ O'Briens bar in honour of the Irish patron saint proved Travis Diffenbaugh's downfall after the 30-year-old Californian apprentice carpenter was picked up trying to drive along Wharf St about 6pm on Wednesday with a blood alcohol level of 0.160 per cent.
He told police he had his last beer moments before getting in the car.
The visitor's unlucky run continued with a search of the vehicle revealing a hollowed-out apple which Diffenbaugh admitted to having used as a bong and a cigarette packet containing 2g of cannabis.
He said he had been given the drugs at a local hotel that afternoon.
Police prosecutor Cheryl Sayer said police were forced to lock Diffenbaugh up for the night as he had been due to fly back to Los Angeles at 5.30am yesterday and was considered too much of a flight risk.
The court heard the tourist not only missed his plane, he believed his travelling companion had gone without him and taken his passport.
Diffenbaugh was fined $1450 for drink-driving and possessing drugs and a drug utensil to be paid within two days, and was also disqualified from driving for nine months.
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