A 28-year-old man was charged with threatening the Premier and making demands for money yesterday.

It was alleged in Magistrates’ Court that Jared Gordon sent David Burt a series of messages between October 2 last year and March 28 to demand unwarranted items and cash. Mr Gordon was also charged with two counts of sending threatening messages to Mr Burt.

Crown prosecutors alleged that Mr Gordon sent a menacing message to Mr Burt on October 12 last year. The message is alleged to have said: “Ignoring me asking for a budget is driving me to a point of wanting to tell you this to your face ... I would really put a hole in your head.”

The defendant was also accused of sending a message to the Premier on March 28 that included a threat of “pulling you out of your house and chopping your head off with a hacksaw”.

Mr Gordon was not required to enter a plea to the charges as the case has to be heard in the Supreme Court.

Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo released Mr Gordon on $5,000 bail on condition that he avoid contact with Mr Burt.

He was also ordered to report to Hamilton police station three times a week. The case was deferred to the Supreme Court on June 1.