Man Arrested Over Large Cannabis Growing Operation At Singleton

BY IAN CROUCH

A Vietnamese national is due to face court today (Thursday 17 September 2020) accused of cultivating a large commercial quantity of cannabis at Singleton.

Following inquiries, Police went to a home on Dimmock Street at Hunterview at about 5.30pm on Wednesday where they discovered a sophisticated hydroponic set-up.

It's alleged they found 258 plants growing inside.

A 28-year-old man was arrested at the home and has been refused bail to front Singleton Local Court  charged with four offences including cultivating a prohibited plant.

Police will remain at the house today where they are processing and dismantling the set-up.

Five People Charged Over Muswellbrook Winery Break In

Five people have been charged following an alleged break-in at a Hunter Valley winery on Monday night.

At About 6.20pm, an alarm was activated from inside a winery located on Hunter Street, Muswellbrook.

Officers from Hunter Valley Police District responded and found two vehicles parked outside with boxes of wine nearby.

During an external check of the property, police heard voices and saw torch lights inside.

Officers entered the building and found a man in the barrel room.

The 27-year-old was arrested and taken outside where a further three people – a 23-year-old woman and two men, aged 23 and 33 – were also arrested

All four people were taken to Muswellbrook Police Station.

Following inquiries, officers arrested a fifth person, a 22-year-old man, just before 9.30pm at a fast food restaurant in Muswellbrook.

He was also taken to Muswellbrook Police Station.

All five were charged with aggravated break, enter and steal, enter enclosed lands, and malicious damage.

They will appear at Muswellbrook Local Court on Monday 26 October 2020.

Former Hunter Tennis Coach To Face Court Over Alleged Historical Child Sex Abuse Charges

BY IAN CROUCH

A former tennis coach is due to face court over the alleged historical indecent assault of a young girl in the Hunter.

In June 2017, Hunter Valley detectives began an investigation into alleged offences against a teenager in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

The 57-year-old was issued with a Court Attendance Notice on July 30 this year and is expected to make his first appearance in Maitland Local Court today (Wednesday 9 September, 2020).

Police will allege the man was coaching the girl, then aged between 13 and 17 when he indecently assaulted her on multiple occasions in the East Maitland and Hunter region.

Police Investigate Suspicious Fire At Cessnock McDonalds

BY IAN CROUCH

Hunter Valley Police are appealing for witnesses after fire caused severe damage to the McDonalds Restaurant at Cessnock.

Firefighters were called to the store on Allandale Road at about 3.30am on Sunday (18 July 2020) to find an external playground and dining area on fire.

The flames spread to the roof of the restaurant and caused some internal damage before the fire was extinguished.

No-one was in the building at the time.

Police are treating the fire as suspicious.

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

The fire-damaged playground equipment at Cessnock McDonalds Picture: Fire & Rescue Kearsley

Police Yet To Identify Driver Involved In Fiery Crash At North Rothbury

BY IAN CROUCH

Investigators are yet to formally identify the driver involved in a fiery crash at North Rothbury.

Emergency services were called to Wine Country Drive at about 2.20am on Sunday where a car had caught fire after leaving the road and hitting a tree.

The driver, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, died at the scene.

Investigations into the crash are continuing and a report will be prepared for the coroner.

Kurri Kurri Man Arrested at Singleton Caravan Park Over Alleged Online Grooming of 14-Year-Old Girl

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Strike Force Trawler detectives have charged a man from the Hunter Valley following an investigation into the alleged online grooming of a child.

In May, detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crime Squad’s Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU) began engaging online with a man from Kurri Kurri.

Police will allege the man believed he was speaking with a 14-year-old girl and engaged in conversations about sexually-explicit acts he wished to perform with the child and sent her explicit material.

About 9.40am on Wednesday July 1st, following extensive inquiries, strike force investigators arrested a 47-year-old man at a caravan park in Singleton.

The man was taken to Singleton Police Station and charged with use carriage service to solicit child abuse material and use carriage service to groom child under 16 years for sex.

He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today.

Police Investigate Suspicious House Fire At Muswellbrook

BY IAN CROUCH

A fire which damaged a house at Muswellbrook overnight is being treated as suspicious.

Firefighters from Muswellbrook, Aberdeen and Denman were called to the single storey home on Dangar Place just after 8.30pm on Sunday to find smoke issuing from a front bedroom.

They took about 40 minutes to extinguish and mop up the blaze which was confined to the bedroom

No-one was home at the time.

Newcastle Fire Command says an accelerant had been used and a bar heater was alight when they arrived.

Police Investigate Aggravated Break And Enter At Denman

BY IAN CROUCH

Hunter Valley Police are searching for a man and woman who allegedly assaulted a man during an early morning break-in at Denman.

Police say the 22-year-old man was asleep inside a unit on Virginia Street at about 12.30am on Tuesday when he was woken by a man and a woman - one was armed with a baseball bat.

The pair demanded money before the man assaulted the 22-year-old resident.

They left in a vehicle a short time later.

Police set up a crime scene and investigations are continuing.

Police say the alleged victim suffered minor injuries and did not require treatment.

Driver Facing High Range Drink Driving Charge After Crash Near Singleton

BY IAN CROUCH

A man is due to face court charged with high range drink driving after a crash at Dunolly near Singleton on Sunday night.

Police say a Ford Falcon lost control and crashed through a fence on Dunolly Road just before 6.30pm, with the car coming to a stop in a paddock.

Officers arrived and breath tested the 40-year-old driver, who returned a positive reading.

He was arrested and taken to Singleton Police Station where it's alleged he blew 0.214, more than 4 times the legal limit.

The man's been issued a Court Attendance Notice to face Singleton Local Court on September 3 charged with High Range P.C.A.

Man Charged As Police Investigate Death Of Baby Boy At Aberdeen

BY IAN CROUCH

Upper Hunter Police have charged a man with several offences as they continue investigations into the death of a baby boy at Aberdeen.

The 34-year-old was arrested following a vehicle stop at Muswellbrook on Wednesday night. He was taken to Muswellbrook Police Station before being taken to Muswellbrook and Maitland Hospital then released and returned to Muswellbrook Police Station.

The man has been charged with three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, two counts of common assault and one count of intentionally or recklessly destroy or damage property - all those charges are domestic violence related.

He's also been charged with five outstanding warrants relating to traffic, property, judicial and revocation of parole offences and has been refused bail to face Newcastle Local Court today (Friday 22 May 2020).

Investigations into the death of the 7-month-old boy continue after he was taken to Muswellbrook Hospital in an unresponsive state on Sunday and couldn't be revived .

The man was arrested following a vehicle stop at Muswellbrook on Wednesday Night

Man Arrested Over Suspicious Baby Death At Aberdeen

BY IAN CROUCH

Police have arrested a man in relation to the suspicious death of a 7-month-old boy at Aberdeen.

The boy was taken to Muswellbrook Hospital on Sunday afternoon in an unresponsive state.

A 36-year-old man was arrested at about 6.30pm on Wednesday following a vehicle stop on the New England Highway at Muswellbrook.

He's been taken to Muswellbrook Police Station.

Young Girl Stable After Being Hit By Car At East Branxton

BY IAN CROUCH

A 4-year-old girl is recovering in the John Hunter Hospital after being hit by a car at East Branxton.

Police say the girl was riding her bike on McMullins Road at abut 5.35pm on Tuesday when she was struck by a car.

Emergency services were called, including the Hunter's Westpac Rescue Helicopter with a Critical Care Paramedic and Doctor on board.

The Rescue Helicopter Service says the girl was treated for moderate injuries at the scene and transported by road ambulance to hospital in a stable condition.

Police say a 56-year-old man who was driving the car was uninjured and underwent a mandatory roadside breath test which allegedly returned a positive result.

The man was arrested and taken to Singleton Police Station where he underwent a secondary breath test which returned a negative result.

He was released and driven home by police.

Inquiries are continuing and anyone who may have witnessed the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

UPDATE! Police Renew Appeal For Help To Find Missing Hunter Valley Man And Child

BY IAN CROUCH

Police say the missing man and child were found safe and well early Wednesday morning at Moree.

EARLIER:

There are serious concerns for a Hunter Valley man and child who've been missing since Tuesday morning.

57-year-old Michael Lantry and 4-year-old Conner Lanrty were last seen boarding a bus on Wollombi Road at Millfield bound for Cessnock at about 8.30am on Tuesday 24 March 2020.

However , the pair failed to return home.

Michael is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 175cm tall with a thin build, blue eyes, grey hair and a beard.

He was last seen wearing jeans, a grey jumper and joggers.

Conner is about 100cm tall with a thin build, blonde hair and blue eyes and was last seen wearing a 'Ben 10' backpack.

If you've seen them, call Triple Zero immediately.

Missing Michael and Conner Lantry.  Police say Mr Lantry has trimmed his beard since this photo was taken

UPDATE: Police Calling for Public Assistance, as Muswellbrook Home is Set on Fire Twice in a Week

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Police are appealing for public assistance after a Muswellbrook home was targeted in two suspicious blazes in the past week.

Around 4.30am on Saturday the 7th of March and 5.00am on Tuesday the 10th of March, NSW Fire and Rescue crews were called to a home on Bligh Street in Muswellbrook.

On Tuesday morning, neighbors contacted emergency services when they saw the home was fully engulfed in flames.

The home was vacant on both occasions, with the building now completely destroyed.

Police are appealing for anyone who may have heard or witnessed any suspicious activity in the area in the early hours of either Saturday the 7th or Tuesday 10 March to contact Muswellbrook Police on 6542 6999 or to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Four Women Taken to Hospital Following Acid Spill at Lake Macquarie Pharmacy

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Four women have been transported to Belmont District Hospital this morning, after an acid spill at a Blacksmiths pharmacy, just before 10am.

The Lake Macquarie, Pharmacy 4 Less building was evacuated due to a spill of glacial acidic acid at around 9:50am.

The Hospital is yet to confirm the condition of the four women.

Ambulance and four Fire and Rescue crews arrived on scene, with Hazmat officers also arriving  to clean up the spill.

Police taped off the area, with a 30 meter exclusion zone established around the building.

The pharmacist on duty was reportedly advised to go to hospital after being exposed to the smell of the chemical, but decided not to go and is reportedly in a healthy condition.

The area was fully cleared at around 11.20am.

The pharmacy has now re-opened.

Investigations are continuing.

                                Blacksmiths Pharmacy 4 Less Image: Google Maps

Motorcyclist Killed In Crash At Bucketty

A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner following the death of a motorcyclist in the Hunter Valley on Sunday afternoon.

Emergency services were called to Great North Road, Bucketty (40km north-west of Somersby), about 4.30pm, responding to reports of a crash involving a motorcycle and SUV.

Officers from Hunter Valley Police District were told a man was riding north and a Mitsubishi SUV was being driven south, when the crash occurred in the southbound lane.

The SUV left the road, crashing down a ravine trapping the driver, while the motorcyclist was thrown down the same ravine.

Paramedics were winched by helicopter down the ravine to the injured motorcyclist; however, he died a short time after being brought up to the roadway.

He is believed to have been aged 59 and from Mardi.

A 44-year-old woman, from Paxton, was released from the wreckage of her SUV and escaped with relatively minor injuries.

She was taken to Wyong Hospital for mandatory testing.

Police were assisted at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics, Rescue helicopter crew, RFS and VRA volunteers.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000.

BREAKING! Crews Called To Shop Fire At Singleton

BY IAN CROUCH

Fire crews have been called to a shop fire at Singleton.

Police say a wheelie bin was set alight at a hairdressing salon in Burns Lane just before 4.30am on Thursday.

The salon has sustained fire and smoke damage with firefighters taking about an hour to extinguish the flames and ventilate the shop as well as cool the external walls of the building.

A crime scene has been established as investigations into the fire continue.

Investigations Continue Into Fatal Crash At Jerrys Plains

BY IAN CROUCH

Hunter Valley police are still to confirm the identity of a person who has died in a firey crash at Jerrys Plains.

Police say a car crashed off the Golden Highway near Lemington Drive about 40 kiloemetres west of Singleton at about 6.40pm on Sunday.

The car crashed into trees and caught on fire.

Rural Fire Service crews extinguished the blaze and found a body inside the car.

Police established a crime scene and are investigating the circumstances leading up to the crash.

Anyone with information which can assist investigators is urged to contact  Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.