Three years for robbery

A MAN addicted to prescription drugs claimed he did not want to hurt a chemist owner when he held him at knifepoint and demanded drugs.

Michael Davidson repeatedly told the joint owner of the Highland Park Chempro Chemist “I want all your benzo”, while threatening him with a 15cm knife about 8.15pm on July 16.

The 31-year-old did not make it far when he tried to run from the store with the drugs.

He was stopped by two bystanders who held him on the ground until police arrived.

Davidson pleaded guilty in the Southport District Court on Wednesday to armed robbery.

Judge Deborah Holliday sentenced him to three years’ prison with parole release on September 15 next year.

“It’s unsurprising that it’s had an effect on the owner of the store,” she said.

“He was going about his life and trying to run his business.

“You need to think about the ramifications of your actions on the impact on the people you commit offences against.”

Davidson has spent 138 days in custody.

The court was told Davidson had grabbed the knife from a picnic basket before going to the chemist.

He told the owner: “I am not here to hurt you, I’m just here for the valium”.

After Davidson made the threats, the owner started to put the drugs into a box, which Davidson took.

It was then he was stopped by some bystanders.

While in custody, Davidson wrote a letter of apology saying he never intended to harm the owner.

“I am extremely sorry for the harm I’ve caused … once again I’m sorry for my actions,” he wrote.

The court was told the joint owner of the chemist now struggled to work at night.