Passport snag catches fisherman

Peter Scott was stopped from boarding a plane because police thought he was a drug dealer. Photo / Richard Robinson

One of New Zealand's top fly fishermen was stopped from boarding a plane to the World Championships in Poland, because police thought he was a drug dealer.

Peter Scott and five teammates were lining up to check in at Auckland International Airport on Thursday when he was pulled aside.

"They just said 'the officer wants to have a look at your passport'," Mr Scott, who was fingerprinted, told the Weekend Herald.

The 58-year-old Auckland father, a one-time national fly-fishing champ who has travelled the world competing and wrote New Zealand's Best Trout Flies, shares his name and birthdate with someone now before the courts on drug charges.

An Auckland District Court staff member confirmed a Peter James Scott with the same birthdate was to appear for sentencing in Warkworth District Court next month.

It is understood the case relates to cultivation and possession of cannabis as well as theft of more than $1000.

By the time airport police realised the mistake Mr Scott had missed the flight - putting him $1100 out of pocket.

His two bags and two belonging to a teammate, which had been labelled with his name, were hauled off.

Meanwhile, the rest of the team had taken off on their 25-hour journey to Krakow - with stops in Shanghai and Frankfurt - one minus his baggage.

"He'll have to turn his undies inside out," Mr Scott told the Weekend Herald with a laugh.

It is not the first time he has had trouble with his namesake.

Eight years ago, Mr Scott was arrested at Auckland Airport after returning from the World Championships in Sweden. Once that gaffe was sorted, he was told an alert in the system would stop it happening again.

But late Thursday night Mr Scott, who hates flying and will now have to drive a rental car 200km from Krakow to the championships at the San River in Lesko-Polanczyk alone, was escorted home by police officers.

"My wife Lynley got a bit of a shock to see me standing in the bedroom since I was supposed to be halfway to China," he said.

Sons Ryan, 25, and Daniel, 30, had given their dad a bit of grief about "being a crim", Mr Scott said.

"You certainly feel like a crim walking around the airport with police following you everywhere."

But yesterday came some good news - police had spoken to Air New Zealand which will refund the missed flight. "That's good, at least you don't get dumped on all the time for doing nothing wrong," Mr Scott said.

Last night he was escorted by police to the exit lounge for a 7pm flight.