A 23-year-old Sussex woman's cunning plan to smuggle cocaine into the UK concealed in the shafts of golf clubs fell apart, when she mistook suspicious customs officials' quizzing about her handicap for a request for information as to whether or not she was disabled.

According to the Sun, Kayti Ella Dryer from Lewes jetted in to Manchester Airport from Jamaica's Montego Bay on 3 April. Despite her claims she'd been on a golfing holiday, she failed to recognise the terms "birdie" and "fairway".

Mike O'Grady of HM Revenue and Customs said: "When Dryer was asked questions about golf, it was clear that she was totally unfamiliar with the game and she had no legitimate reason for travelling with the sports equipment."

An airport source elaborated: "When asked about her handicap, she looked blank and asked them to repeat the question. It appeared as if she thought they were asking her if she had a disability."

Customs operatives found a kilo of Bolivian marching powder - estimated value £83k - inside Dryer's golf clubs. She pleaded guilty to attempted drug smuggling, and was jailed for four years at Manchester Crown Court last Thursday. ®