Drug addict allegedly stole 147 pill packets during Mount Morgan pharmacy break in

A court has been told a man accused of stealing a horde of medication during a ‘brazen’ break and enter had previously been sentenced in a higher court for similar offending.

File photo of medications. (Photo by GERARD JULIEN / AFP)

A man accused of entering a pharmacy and stealing 147 packets of medication before wrestling victims had previously been sentenced in a higher court for similar offending, a court heard.

Nigel Ray Haplin made a bail application in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on November 22.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Sarah Rowe said it was alleged the 42-year-old ‘brazenly’ broke in and entered a pharmacy in Mount Morgan and stole the 147 packets of medication.

“It is a concern that he has entered into that pharmacy, taking that property, then engaged in a wrestle with the victims of that incident,” she said.

“It is concerning behaviour.”

Defence lawyer Samantha Legrady said Mr Haplin proposed to live with his 82-year-old mother in Mount Morgan if bailed.

She said he previously lived in share accommodation.

Ms Legrady said Mr Haplin sought bail to be able to gather documents from his doctor to provide at his sentence.

She said he had recently been put on a suboxone program for opioid addicts and planned to continue it.

The court heard Mr Haplin had a seven-page criminal record.

Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale said Mr Haplin was handed a 12-month jail term on June 6, 2021, and was on parole until March 11, 2022.

She said the alleged offences were similar to what he had been sentenced for in 2021, which also involved a three-month jail term for a common assault “where the situation was very nearly like that”.

Mrs Beckinsale denied Mr Haplin bail and remanded him in custody to appear via video link at his sentence on December 9.