Florist not so rosy WELLINGTON: A N

Florist not so rosy
WELLINGTON: A New Zealand florist who changed details of rival businesses on Google Maps to direct potential customers to her own company was sentenced yesterday to 100 hours’ community service.

Kendra Drinkwater, 40, of the North Island city Napier, could have gone to prison for seven years for what Google said was the first case of ‘‘editing with ill intent’’.

When charged in December, she admitted to six counts of accessing a computer system for dishonest gain. The court heard that she had altered addresses, phone numbers and website details of rival florists in the area on at least 100 occasions between Nov 1 and Dec 4.

The mother of two told police it was an ‘‘addiction’’. She repeatedly changed the details displayed on the map so that her business was the only company potential buyers could contact. dpa