Developer says cocaine bought for weight loss

Property developer David Henderson at the Princes Wharf development in 2004. Picture / Glenn Jeffrey

EXCLUSIVE - When property developer David Henderson chatted on the phone about buying "vintage bottles of wine", it was cocaine he was really after, court papers have revealed.

A suspected cocaine dealer, who is now facing charges and has name suppression, was under surveillance by the Auckland Drug Squad when he had the conversation with Henderson at the end of June.

The 51-year-old, who lives in the penthouse of the Hilton Hotel on Auckland's waterfront, has admitted a charge of attempting to procure a Class A drug, cocaine.
During the phone call Henderson, who was behind the development of Auckland's Princes Wharf, jokingly suggested it would be quicker to go to Colombia himself for the drug than wait for it to be supplied.

He also tried to disguise what he was trying to buy by calling it "vintage bottles of wine".

Details of the cellphone conversation between the first high-profile man to be named in the celebrity drug case, and the alleged kingpin, can now be revealed by the Herald.

The papers presented to the Auckland District Court state that Henderson told police taking cocaine suppressed his appetite and helped him lose weight.

The multi-millionaire, who is variously described in court papers as a property developer and as an electrician, is to be sentenced on Monday.

At a hearing this week his lawyer, Paul Dale, applied for a discharge without conviction, but Judge David Burns said he needed more evidence before considering such a move.

The charge carries a maximum six months in prison and a $1000 fine.

At the end of June Henderson contacted the man on his mobile phone asking about the availability of cocaine. He was told that the drug was three and a half weeks away. At that, Henderson jokingly suggested that they go to Colombia themselves to get the cocaine.

Henderson told the suspected drug dealer that when the cocaine arrived he "wanted 10". Police say he was referring to 10 grams of cocaine.

On July 11 Henderson again contacted the alleged drug dealer on his mobile asking about the availability of the drug.

The man told him he was out of Auckland until the end of the week and would let him know if any cocaine was available on his return.

Police spoke to Henderson on August 1, when he admitted contacting the other man.

"In explanation for his actions, the defendant stated that he had discovered taking cocaine in the evening suppressed his appetite and helped him lose weight," the police summary said.

This may explain the success of Henderson's slimming regime. Last winter, Henderson seized on the Atkins craze and lost at least 24kg.

During the stressful 2000 when he was building the $250 million Princes Wharf redevelopment, "Hendo" was a big lad.

But by last winter, the metamorphosis was spectacular.

He sported a new wardrobe and cut a much finer figure on the waterfront.

Come the summer, he appeared even leaner, as the diet regime continued apace and his face shape changed markedly.

But following his drug conviction this week, it would appear his regime was somewhat unorthodox - as well as illegal.

Those who watched a slimmer man emerge from the massive form four years ago are now wondering how much of his spectacular drop can be attributed to cocaine - which he never admitted to before - and how much to the no-carbohydrates regime he credited.

Doctors say cocaine acts as an appetite suppressant to such an extent that it can make users vulnerable to malnutrition. Long-term use can result in a range of mental health conditions from mild depression to the extremes of cocaine psychosis with symptoms similar to schizophrenia.

Like all stimulants, it can lead to heart problems - as well as police problems.

Last winter, Mr Henderson outlined a magic recipe of regular exercise and cutting back on potatoes and bread, particularly later in the day. He had almost given up on carbohydrates, he said, and felt brilliant.

The Atkins diet lured millions with celebrity-endorsed pledges to shed the pounds without the need to give up eating fats.