Man killed in Aberglassyn crash

BY DAKOTA TAIT

A man has tragically died after a two-vehicle crash in Aberglassyn on Friday night.

About 7.30pm, emergency services were called to the intersection of McKeachie Drive and Oakhampton Road after reports a trailbike rider had collided with another vehicle.

Witnesses rendered first aid to the rider, a man believed to be aged in his 20s, before the arrival of NSW Ambulance paramedics; but he died at the scene.

The driver and single occupant of the other vehicle, a silver Nissan Dualis, was not injured.

The 17-year-old female was taken to Maitland Hospital for mandatory testing.

Officers from the Port Stephens-Hunter Police District established a crime scene and commenced inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

BREAKING! Two Teenage Boys Facing Court Over Alleged Break-In And Car Theft At Aberglassyn

 BY IAN CROUCH

Two teenage boys are due to front the Children's Court today accused of breaking into a house and stealing a car from Aberglasslyn overnight.

Police say the two 14-year-olds forced their way into a home on Lapwing Street at about 10.00pm on Tuesday, taking the keys to a Hyundai Elantra before driving off in the car.

The owner called police immediately and officers spotted the car about 10 minutes later.

The driver attempted to evade police, taking off into a paddock off Oakhampton Road, with the car becoming airborne before crashing heavily next to a barbed wire fence.

The boys attempted to flee by swimming across the Hunter River, only to be met by waiting officers.

They've been refused bail charged with a range of offences including aggravated break and enter and steal motor vehicle.

Man missing at Aberglassyn riverbank

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Police are undertaking a search at Aberglassyn, after reports a man was seen approaching the riverbank at the Melville Ford Bridge on Friday morning. 

The man hasn't been seen since. 

Officers are sweeping the area with assistance from the SES.

More to come.

Police Appealing for Help to Find Missing Teen Last Seen at Bus Stop Near Rutherford

BY ISABEL EVERETT 

Police are asking for public assistance to help locate a  teenage girl missing from the Hunter. 

15-year-old Sharday Safavizad, was last seen at a bus stop on Aberglasslyn Road near Rutherford about 12.30pm on Saturday November 14. 

She was reported missing to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District on Monday 16 November and police commenced inquiries into her whereabouts.

Sharday is described as being of Middle Eastern/Mediterranean appearance, with long brown hair and brown eyes.

She’s understood to frequent the Hunter and South-Western Sydney areas, including Liverpool.

Police are urging anyone with information, or who may know of her whereabouts, to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Man Faces Fresh Charges Over Hunter Hydroponic House, 321 plants and 22kg of Cannabis Seized

 BY ISABEL EVERETT

A man has been charged with additional drugs offences as part of a two-year investigation into a hydroponic house in the Hunter. 

In March 2018, officers attended a home on Honeysuckle Drive, Aberglasslyn, where they located a large amount of cannabis.

Two days later, on Monday March 26, strike force detectives executed a search warrant at the property, which had allegedly been converted into a hydroponic house.

Officers located and seized a number of items, including 321 cannabis plants and over 22kg of loose cannabis leaf.

As part of ongoing inquiries, police attended a home on Dimmock Street at Hunterview, near Singleton, on on September 16 2020, where officers allegedly located and dismantled another elaborate hydroponic setup.

A 28-year-old man was arrested and charged; he remains before the courts.

Following further inquiries, police issued the man a Court Attendance Notice for cultivating a large commercial quantity of prohibited plant on Monday October 12. 

He is due to next appear at Muswellbrook Local Court on November 16. 

The home on Honeysuckle Drive, Aberglasslyn

                                                                          Images from the NSW Police Force

Police raids uncover hundreds of cannabis plants in Maitland area

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

A major hydroponic operation has been dismantled in the Maitland area following a raid of 6 homes this morning.

Port Stephens-Hunter Police executed crime scene warrants around 8am today on homes in Raworth, Tenambit, Heddon Greta, Aberglasslyn and Chisholm.

Three men and one woman, all Vietnamese nationals, were arrested and taken to Maitland Police Station after their extremely sophisticated hydroponic setups were discovered.

Hundreds of cannabis plants were found in each of the homes, which were set up with fake walls, watering systems, transformers and growing lights.

Strike Force Devom was formed in December last year to investigate a cluster of hydro-houses believed to be in the area.

Hydro-houses are set up to look like ordinary homes- one of the houses raided today was decorated with Christmas lights to blend-in with the family neighbourhood.

Electricians were called in to cut the homes' power supplies, as investigations continue into whether the properties are part of an organised crime gang.