A sound recorder working at The Open championship has been fined £500 for possession of cocaine.
Max Muehlen, 32, was slapped with the fine at Dundee Sheriff Court after admitting having the drug in a St Andrews pub.
The court heard Muehlen, of White Oak Avenue, Rosenda, California, was working as a freelance sound recorder for a company in America.
He was caught with cocaine at The Victoria Cafe, and spent time in the cells at Dundee’s police headquarters.
Fiscal depute John Malpass said: “The Victoria Cafe is a licensed premises in St Andrews. Around 8pm on July 12, security staff checked the toilets.
“As they entered they could hear snorting noises coming from one of the cubicles.
“The staff member asked for the cubicle door to be opened and the accused was found within. White powder was also found within the cubicle.”
The court heard Muehlen was found with 0.9 grams of cocaine, with a value of £45. Solicitor David Bell, defending, said: “Mr Muehlen is a US citizen.
“He’s here working at The Open as a freelance sound recorder for a company in the US.
“He was on a night out and met someone by chance and bought some cocaine from them.
“He tells me he’s not a regular drug user and he does not have an ongoing problem with drugs.
“He made a stupid mistake, for which he has already seen consequences — he’s paid a daily rate and has missed out in that due to the time he’s spent in custody.”
Mr Bell added that Muehlen was earning around £300 per day and that he was due to return to America on July 26.
Muehlen admitted that on July 12, at Victoria Cafe, St Mary’s Place, he had cocaine, a Class A drug.
He was given seven days to pay the fine of £500 in full.
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