By ROSALEEN MACBRAYNE
Only days before Te Puke great-grandfather George Edwards was convicted in the Tauranga District Court on charges of growing and selling cannabis, he was thanked by a Housing New Zealand tenancy manager for the improvements he had done on his rented property.
Another official letter followed swiftly after disclosure at the court appearance that the 74-year-old had admitted dope dealing so he could concrete the driveway and plant trees because the state landlord refused to upgrade the place.
"I got a rap on the fingers for being a naughty boy," says Mr Edwards.
Housing New Zealand area manager Michael Thomson warned Mr Edwards and his wife that they could be evicted if there was any repetition of his "totally unacceptable behaviour."
Not only had Mr Edwards breached the tenancy agreement by drug growing and dealing, he had put down concrete without consent.
However, the Edwards had been good tenants who had taken care of the property and there would be no requirement to remove the concrete pad "at this time."
Should it be found not to comply with building codes, any costs of modifying or taking it out would be charged to Mr Edwards.
Housing NZ would not compensate him for the improvements financed by his unlawful activity.
Mr Thomson did not wish to comment yesterday but a head office spokesman, Tim Lawrey, said the Te Puke property had been inspected and was well maintained, although the unauthorised additions remained unfinished.
"Housing New Zealand will discuss this matter with its tenant to find a suitable solution," he said.
Mr Edwards, who has lived in the house for two of his 40 years in Te Puke, is happy.
He got what he wanted - better access to his front door in wet weather and some fruit trees.
And Housing New Zealand's new income-related rents mean the Edwards will soon have more money in hand from their pensions.
Public reaction so far has been favourable and neighbours and friends seem more amused than shocked.
"They're saying 'Good on you, you old biscuit'," Mr Edwards grins. He even had a stranger ringing yesterday offering to come around with a couple of mates and finish the last two metres of concreting.
"He saw my plight and wanted to do a joker a favour.
"There are good Samaritans out there," says Mr Edwards, who is clearly relishing his new-found notoriety and is well pleased his prison sentences have been suspended for 18 months.
"Who is going to put an old fellow like me away?
"And I haven't got any money so they couldn't fine me."
Although crime did pay "for a while, in this case," the frail pensioner claims to have finished with cannabis.
"I just put it down to another experience in life."
Dope-selling grandfather rapped by Housing NZ
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