Decision reserved on sentence for property tycoon

David Henderson, seen arriving at the Auckland District Court yesterday. Picture / Fotopress

Property developer David Henderson has to wait until next week to learn whether he will be convicted of a cocaine charge.

The 51-year-old multimillionaire is seeking a discharge without conviction after pleading guilty to one charge of attempting to procure cocaine.

Judge Simon Lockhart, QC, reserved his decision today at the end of a two-day hearing.

Henderson was arrested and charged after police busted an alleged white-collar drug ring in Auckland. Henderson was not alleged to be part of the ring.

Six people were arrested and two sports celebrities have been implicated by being named in police charges against the accused.

The man police allege to be the kingpin was today named as company director John Waterworth.

Name suppression on Waterworth, 55, was lifted when he appeared in Auckland District Court. He is facing 22 charges including possession of methamphetamine and ecstasy and supplying the drugs.

Crown Prosecutor Fletcher Pilditch today told the court that Henderson made contact with Waterworth on two occasions and asked for 10 grams of cocaine to be "put aside".

The drug was referred to as "vintage bottles of wine".

Mr Pilditch said the cost of 10 grams of cocaine was between $2500 and $4000.

Henderson spoke to police last Monday and appeared in court that afternoon to plead guilty to the procuring charge.

Henderson told police he used the drug to assist weight loss.

His lawyer, Paul Dale, said the consequences of a conviction would be disproportionate to the crime.

He said it would affect Henderson's business and his ability to travel, mainly to the United States, China and Australia, where his company operates and he has a home.

The Crown opposes the application.

Mr Pilditch said there were no exceptional or unique circumstances relevant to Henderson or his offending.

It was not a trivial offence and drug charges were viewed seriously by the community.

Mr Dale said Henderson was an exceptional case and in the category of others who had been granted a discharge without conviction.

The court heard evidence from Chris Aiken, chief executive of Henderson's Kitchener Group, on the impact of a conviction on the company.

Mr Dale has asked for suppression orders to protect the commercial nature of the evidence and an interim order was granted until a further hearing on that evidence is held tomorrow.

Judge Lockhart will deliver his decision next Tuesday.

- NZPA