Drunk Brit hands out £45k at Spanish airport

A dishevelled and heavily intoxicated British tourist was taken into police custody yesterday (July 8) after trying to give away £45,000 at Majorca Airport.

The man, described by onlookers as smelly and dressed like a "tramp," drew massive crowds when he began laughing incoherently and handing out bundles of euros.

To the dismay of fellow holidaymakers he was hurriedly spirited away, before being screened by consular officials and then coaxed onto a return flight.

Identified only as 59-year-old James BN, the hapless philanthropist was reportedly carrying at least 52,000 euros in cash and travellers cheques.

He had flown to Spain from Manchester Airport and immediately upon his arrival began drunkenly handing out the money, which was believed to come from an inheritance.

Although the man was not breaking the law, a decision was taken to intervene for his safety.

"Consular officials were made aware of the case," a spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office confirmed. "He was offered consular assistance but given [that] he was not detained and only taken in for his own protection, no assistance was required."

The incident marks a welcome reprieve from more-familiar stories about inebriated Brits - illustrated this week when a drunk man from the UK reportedly head-butted a Mumbai airport cop.

Holidaymaker Lockwood Earnest George is alleged to have assaulted the officer on Monday, The Times of India reported, after being refused entry to a Jet Airways flight.

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