Tuesday 19 March 2024

Cessnock Prison Officer Charged With Assault

 BY IAN CROUCH

A Correctional Officer has been charged over an alleged assault on a male inmate at Cessnock Gaol.

The Corrective Services Investigation Unit has been looking into the incident which allegedly occurred in January.

As a result, a 46-year-old man was arrested at Wyong Police Station yesterday (Monday 18 March, 2024).

He's been charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and threaten to cause harm to prevent information to police, and granted conditional bail to face Cessnock Court on April 3. 




Saturday 16 March 2024

UPDATE! Two people seriously injured, hit by car at Port Stephens

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE and IAN CROUCH

Police have arrested a man over an incident at North Arm Cove where two people were allegedly hit by a car.

Police say a white Ford Falcon was allegedly doing burnouts on Somerset Drive last Friday night when the driver lost control, hitting a 20-year-old woman and a 14-year-old girl.

The vehicle caught fire and the driver fled, while the two injured females were taken to hospital in a serious condition.

Following extensive inquiries, a 22-year-old man was arrested at Maitland Police Station yesterday (Monday 18 March, 2024).

He's been charged with two counts of cause bodily harm by misconduct (in charge of motor vehicle), interfere with person's enjoyment or risk safety, drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous, fail to stop and assist after impact cause injury, negligent driving, and drive motor vehicle while licence suspended.

He was granted strict conditional bail to appear before Raymond Terrace Local Court on Monday 6 May 2024.

EARLIER:

A young woman and teenage girl have been seriously injured after being hit by a car at Port Stephens last night. 

Around 11:40pm on Friday, 15 March, emergency services were called to Somerset Drive at North Arm Cove following reports two people had been injured by a car. 

Port Stephens-Hunter Police District officers arrived on scene to find a white Ford Falcon sedan had been performing burn-outs in front of a crowd of people when the driver lost control and struck a power pole, as well as the woman and girl beside it. 

The sedan then caught fire, with the driver allegedly fleeing the scene. 

 Fire and Rescue NSW crews extinguished the fire, and the sedan has been seized by police for forensic examination.  

The 20-year-old woman and 14-year-old girl were treated on scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics for pelvic and leg injuries. The pair were transported to the John Hunter Hospital in a serious condition. 

Police have established a crime scene on Somerset Drive and are appealing to the public for information. 

Detectives hope to speak to the driver of the sedan who may be able to assist with inquiries. 

Anyone with information is being urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.



Friday 15 March 2024

NAB To Close Cessnock Branch In June

 BY IAN CROUCH

Hunter MP, Dan Repacholi has hit out at the National Australia Bank over plans to close it's Cessnock branch in June.

The bank wrote to the MP this week advising of the decision.

It means the NAB will no longer have a branch in the town, forcing customers to travel 30 minutes to the nearest branch in Maitland or Glendale.

Dan Repacholi says the decision will have a huge impact in Cessnock, saying it's a disgrace when the NAB made more than $7 billion dollars in profit last year.

He says local businesses who rely on over-the-counter banking services on daily basis will need to spend days and weeks preparing to swap to another bank so they can continue to operate.

Dan Repacholi has launched a petition on his website urging the community to let the bank know exactly what they feel about the decision.




Hunter MP Dan Repacholi

Thursday 14 March 2024

BREAKING! Second Man Arrested Over Violent Armed Robbery On Commonwealth Hotel

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police investigating a violent armed robbery on the Commonwealth Hotel at Cooks Hill last month have made a second arrest.

A cleaner was allegedly bashed during the incident just before dawn on Wednesday February 28.

Earlier this month, Strike Force detectives arrested a 34-year-old man at Mayfield - he remains before the courts.

Further inquiries led police to an address at Cooks Hill at about 7.45pm on Wednesday, where a 28-year-old man was arrested.

He's been charged with robbery with an offensive weapon, reckless grievous bodily harm and conspiracy to commit robbery in company and is due to face court today.



Man Sought Over Alleged Sexual Act At Charlestown

 BY IAN CROUCH

Lake Macquarie police have released an image of a man wanted over an alleged sexual act performed on a bus at Charlestown.

Police say around 5.25pm on Thursday the 1st of February, the man boarded a bus in Pearson Street before exposing himself and rubbing his genitals.

He's described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 165cm tall, in his 50's with a slim build, shaved head and was wearing a black t-shirt, yellow shorts, white sneakers and reading and sunglasses at the time.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

A CCTV image of the wanted man

 




Wednesday 13 March 2024

Man Accused Of Stealing 3km Of Copper Cabling From Rutherford Business

 BY IAN CROUCH

A man has faced court charged with the alleged theft of thousands of dollars worth of copper cable at Rutherford.

Police have been told more than 3km of cabling was stolen from a business on Racecourse Road over four separate occasions in the past week with an estimated value of more than 22-thousand dollars.

Following extensive inquiries, police went to an address at Mulbring on Monday and arrested a 36-year-old man.

He's now before the courts charged with four counts of larceny.





BREAKING! Man Under Police Guard After Pursuit And Crash At Rutherford

 BY IAN CROUCH

A man is under police guard in hospital following a pursuit and crash at Rutherford.

At about 8.15pm on Tuesday, Police attempted to stop a Lexus on High Street at Maitland due to the manner of driving.

The car failed to stop and a pursuit was initiated, with the car travelling along the New England Highway before it crashed into two vehicles and flipped onto it's roof.

The driver, a 55-year-old man, was removed from the vehicle and arrested.

He was taken to the John Hunter Hospital as a precaution for treatment of minor injuries.