Multi-millionaire Henderson convicted on drug charge

David Henderson has failed in his bid to avoid a conviction on a drugs charge. Picture / Greg Bowker

Multi-millionaire David Henderson has failed in his bid to avoid a conviction on a drugs charge.

Henderson, 51, a leading Auckland property developer, earlier admitted a charge of attempting to procure the Class A drug cocaine but asked the court to discharge him without conviction because the impact on his business would be disproportionate to the offence.

However in the Auckland District Court today, Judge Simon Lockhart, QC, said that was not appropriate.

He convicted Henderson, ordered him to come up for sentence within nine months if necessary, and told him he must pay $130 in court costs.

That followed a submission from his lawyer Paul Dale, that Henderson would make a $10,000 donation to a drug rehabilitation centre.

Outside the court Mr Dale said the identity of the drug rehabilitation centre had yet to be decided.

He also said it was uncertain if Henderson would appeal today's decision.

- NZPA