Robert Douglas Harvey threatens to set Bonalbo pharmacist on fire

A man told a Bonalbo pharmacist he would pour petrol on her and shoot her assistant when he couldn’t get his methadone. Here’s what happened when he faced court.

A methadone patient threatened his pharmacist despite her making arrangements for him to receive the drug while her pharmacy was closed for the festive season.

Grafton Local Court on Monday heard Bonalbo man Robert Douglas Harvey, 32, was after his methadone when he called a Bonalbo at 11.55am on December 27 last year.

But the pharmacy was closed so the call was diverted to the pharmacist’s personal phone and she directed him to attend a larger pharmacy that was open in Casino.

Mr Harvey rang the pharmacist back 11 minutes later and made what a magistrate described as “threats of the utmost gravity”.

The threats

Court documents state Mr Harvey told the pharmacist to meet him at the pharmacy and said if she wasn’t there he’d throw a brick through the window and get the methadone himself.

“Then I’ll pour petrol on you and set you alight,” he said.

“I might have to go round and shoot your little assistant.”

The documents state police asked Mr Harvey when they went to a Casino home to arrest him if he knew why they were there.

“I was talking to the chemist lady a bit silly,” he answered.

Magistrate Kathy Crittenden said the pharmacist would have been terrified.

Harvey has pleaded guilty to using a carriage service, namely the telephone, to menace/harass/offend and to possess a prohibited drug.

Robert Douglas Harvey, of Bonalbo was arrested at Casino before appearing at Grafton Court on March 14 2022. Picture: Dylan Robinson

Defence lawyer Dylan Beneke said drugs were an issue for Mr Harvey, who was a father of two children and wanted to reconcile with his ex partner.

Police prosecutor Ursula Kryj said Mr Harvey had a long history of drug use and the prospect of rehabilitation was low.

Ms Crittenden ordered a sentence assessment report be prepared.

He has been refused bail and remains in custody.

Mr Harvey’s case was adjourned and listed for sentencing on May 2.