A WOMAN who allegedly held up Hogan’s Pharmacy with a knife was arrested on Thursday morning, but by later that afternoon she was free.
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Sara Louise Michael appeared in Orange Local Court late Thursday afternoon and was granted bail by the magistrate, Terry Lucas, until her next court appearance.
During the hearing police prosecutor Sergeant Andy Bobin said the risk Michael posed to the community and to the alleged victims of the crime were too high for her to be allowed freedom.
“It’s a fairly serious charge ... and a likelihood of a jail sentence,” he said.
“It happened in the general population and within the hours of daylight.”
Police allege Michael walked into the pharmacy at 5.56pm on Tuesday July 22 and asked a staff member if the pharmacy stocked Fentanyl patches used for pain relief.
The alleged victim looked for the patches and asked the 33-year-old if she had a prescription.
The response was threatening.
“This is more forceful than an ask, can I have them?” she allegedly said to the staff member.
“Don’t make me show you my blade.”
She then allegedly took out a small blade and held it in front of her jacket but the staff member refused to give her the Fentanyl patches. Eventually she left after telling the staff member she looked like a “strong woman”.
Her solicitor Michael Bladwell said any risk Michael posed could be mitigated with bail conditions including the requirements she reported to police daily, lived with her father and obeyed a curfew.
Mr Bladwell said his client’s criminal record, which included a drug possession charge, resisting arrest and a drink-driving charge, was evidence she always turned up to court when she was required.
Mr Lucas agreed the conditions could mitigate any risk to the community.