
Despite offering a guilty plea at Tauranga District Court, Rudds plea for leniency was rejected by Magistrate Robyn Paterson, who convicted the rocker of marijuana possession as well as imposing a fine of $250 (?121) and $133 (?65) in court costs.While dismissing Rudds plea to not have the charge added to his record, Paterson told him his arrest was not just an accident. You were blindly ignoring the law. You have been playing Russian roulette.The drummer joined the rockers in 1975, but was fired in 1983 after falling out with guitarist Malcolm Young. He rejoined in 1993 and has been a mainstay ever since, but may find touring a lot more difficult with a drug charge hanging round his neck. Many governments, including the USAs, do not give visas to those who’ve been convicted of drug possession.The former Happy Mondays and Black Grape singer, who finished runner-up to Stacey Solomon on the ITV reality TV show on Saturday (December 4), will play Londons O2 Shepherds Bush Empire on February 25 and Manchesters Academy 2 on February 26.
