Man Charged With Sexually Assaulting Young Girl In Newcastle

 BY IAN CROUCH

A man is due to front court today (Tuesday 26 August, 2025) charged over the alleged sexual assault of a young girl in Newcastle.

Police say around 1.30am on Friday August 15 a 14-year-old girl was waiting at Hamilton Railway Station when she was approached by an unknown man.

It's alleged he followed her to nearby Fern Street Islington where he sexually assaulted her.

Around 7.00am on Monday, detectives with the assistance of the Raptor Squad executed a search warrant at a home on Campden Street, Thornton.

They seized clothing, a backpack and an electronic device.

A 37-year-old man was arrested at the property.

He's been refused bail charged with having sexual intercourse with a child aged between 14 and 16 and failing to comply with an order to provide digital evidence.

 

 

Two People Evacuated From Burning Home At Islington

 BY IAN CROUCH

Two people have been evacuated after a house fire at Islington.

Newcastle Fire Command says 7 trucks were sent to Morgan Street just before 6.00pm on Tuesday where a 2 storey home was on fire.

The blaze caused extensive damage to the rear of the property and the roof space, with crews taking around two hours to extinguish and mop up the fire.

Two people were evacuated and treated by paramedics for smoke inhalation.

Fire investigators will arrive on Wednesday morning to look into the cause of the fire. 

Appeal for information following a suspicious house fire at Islington

BY JORDAN REGNIS

Detectives have released CCTV footage following a suspicious house fire at Islington earlier this year.

About 11.20am on Monday 25 March 2024, emergency services were called to a home on Norfolk Avenue, Islington, with reports of a fire.

Fire and Rescue crews extinguished the blaze; however, parts of the home sustained significant damage.

Officers from Newcastle City Police District attended and commenced inquiries into the circumstance surrounding the blaze under Strike Force Rhodochrosite.

As inquiries continue, detectives have released CCTV footage of two men who may be able to assist with their inquiries.

The first man is described as being about 170-180cm tall, of solid build and with dark hair.

He is pictured wearing an orange hi-vis shirt, dark shorts, tan work boots and sunglasses.

The second man is described as being about 180-185cm tall, of muscular build and with black hair. 

He is pictured wearing a yellow hi-vis shirt, dark shorts, dark shoes and sunglasses.

 

 

BREAKING! Crews Battling House Fire At Islington

 BY IAN CROUCH

Firefighters are battling a house fire at Islington.

Newcastle Fire Command says crews were called to the single level weatherboard and tin roof home in Norfolk Avenue just after 11.15am on Monday to find flames coming from a side window.

Six fire trucks are at the scene along with Police and Ambulance.

Crews had the fire under control just before midday and managed to contain it to one room of the house.

A subsequent search of the home found it was not occupied.

Senior police constable in hospital after Islington crash

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The Crash Investigation Unit is investigating, after a collision between a police car and and a Mazda 6 on Maitland Road at Islington just before 9am on Thursday morning.

Police say the officer was responding to an urgent request for assistance in Mayfield, when the crash happened.

The male senior constable and a 20-year-woman were both taken to the John Hunter as a precaution.

BREAKING! Man Arrest Over String Of Break And Enters At Islington

 BY IAN CROUCH

A major arrest this morning as a man wanted over a string of alleged break and enters struggled violently with police at Islington.

Patrolling police spotted the man in his 40's in Anderton Street at about 4.30am on Wednesday.

He ran off as soon as he saw the officers who pursued him on foot and called for back up.

They caught up with him in nearby Power Street, with residents woken by the commotion.

Police say the man assaulted officers before he was taken into custody.

It's alleged the man was in possession of house breaking implements.

Petition launched to save support class at Islington Public School

BY DAKOTA TAIT

A Hunter father has launched a petition, after learning a support class for students with mild intellectual disabilities, ADHD, and communication difficulties at Islington Public School is likely to be dissolved next year, if class numbers don't improve. 

It's the only class of its type in inner-city Newcastle. 

The Department of Education told parents in private meetings they should consider enrolling elsewhere or risk missing out on a place.

It's understood, while the kids could stay at the school in a mainstream class, they didn't qualify for funding for additional support in that setting.

Nick Pringle says his son is flourishing at school, and there's no alternatives if he has to move.

"The two IM classes that are even within cooee of Islington Public School don't guarantee a place next year," Mr Pringle said.

"That's quite aside from having to uproot the child, take him out of his social setting, all of his mates and his local community."

"In a year where Dylan Alcott can win Australian of the Year, where we're looking at diversity and disability support, it just seems absolutely counter-intuitive and counter-good practice to be making an early support intervention disappear."

More than 400 people have now signed the petition to save the class.

Mr Pringle hopes the support from the community will be enough to convince the Department to extend a lifeline.

"It's been really heartening, it's been quite touching, a little bit humbling, actually, how quickly people have come forward," Mr Pringle said.

"Now I hope we can carry that over, so the Department of Education are listening."

Man Facing Court Over Alleged Sexual Assault At Islington

 BY IAN CROUCH

A man accused of a sexual assault at Islington is due to face court today (Tuesday 14 December, 2021).

A 23-year-old woman was walking to her car on Maitland Road last Friday night when she was approached from behind by a man.

It's alleged he sexually assaulted her before a passer-by intervened and chased the man onto Maitland Road, Beaumont Street and Fern Street.

Investigations led officers to a workplace at Sandgate yesterday morning where a 47-year-old man was arrested.

He's been charged with aggravated sexual assault and inflict actual bodily harm and refused bail.

 

Second Person Arrested at Islington Over Alleged Violent Lake Macquarie Home Invasion

 BY ISABEL EVERETT

A second man has been charged following an alleged home invasion and assault in Lake Macquarie.

About 12.40am on Sunday November 1st, officers were called to a house on Codrington Street, Barnsley, after reports a man had been assaulted during a home invasion.

Police have been told two males were at the home earlier in the evening for a party, but left after they were allegedly involved in an altercation with a 17-year-old male.

The two males then returned to the home – on two separate occasions – and allegedly assaulted the teenager, before they were seen fleeing in a vehicle.

A 17-year-old boy has been charged in relation to the incident; he remains before the courts.

Following inquiries, officers arrested a 28-year-old man at a home on Fern Street, Islington, about 1.45pm on Tuesday. 

He was taken to Newcastle Police Station and charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, aggravated enter dwelling with intent in company, aggravated break and enter commit serious indictable offence and intimidation. 

He was also charged with breach of bail, larceny and other unrelated matters.

He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday. 

UPDATE! Bat Sparks Gas Leak At Islington

BY IAN CROUCH

Fire crews and the gas company has the area safe after a gas leak early Friday morning.

A flying fox flew into overhead power lines, causing a short which travelled down an earth wire and ruptured a gas main, sparking a small fire.

A representative from Sydney Trains de-energised the line to allow for repairs to be made.

EARLIER:

A fruit bat a sparked a gas leak at Islington early Friday morning.

Newcastle Fire Command says the bat flew into an electrical installation next to the railway line in Chin Chen Street just after 4.00am, causing a short.

In turn, this caused an earth to rupture a gas line, starting a small fire.

One family has been displaced from their home.

Firefighters are waiting for a representative from Sydney Trains to de-energise power so a gas company crew can repair the gas line.

It's not clear at this stage if trains are affected.

BREAKING! Crews Called To Apartment Block Fire at Islington

BY IAN CROUCH

Fire crews have been called to a fire at an apartment block at Islington.

5 fire trucks from Newcastle and Lambton were called to the 3 level complex on Beaumont Street at about 4 o'clock on Wednesday morning to find a large amount of smoke issuing from the building.

Residents from 8 units were evacuated and several are being assessed by paramedics for smoke inhalation.

Firefighters found the source of the blaze in a ground floor bin room and had the fire contained within 20 minutes.

Several units are being ventilated to allow residents to return.

A fire investigation team has been called in, with the fire being treated as suspicious.

Police Investigate Chainsaw Attack At Islington

BY IAN CROUCH

 A man is recovering in hospital after he was allegedly threatened by another man wielding a chainsaw at Islington.

Police say the pair had been out drinking and returned home at about 1.45am on Friday and became involved in a scuffle.

It's alleged one of the men picked up a chainsaw, which wasn't operating and began threatening the victim.

He suffered lacerations when he kicked at the machine, with his leg getting caught up in the chain.

Police expect to lay charges against a 28-year-old man over the incident.

Residents Evacuated From Islington Unit Complex

BY IAN CROUCH

Fire has forced the evacuation of residents from a unit complex at Islington.

Firefighters from Cooks Hill, Carrington and Lambton were called to the three level mixed use building in Beaumont Street at about 3.00am on Wednesday to find a fire in the ground floor garbage room.

They forced entry to three upper level units fearing the fire had spread, but managed to contain the blaze to the garbage room.

No-one was injured and residents were allowed to return to their units at 4.45am.

Police launch new strike-force following bikie shooting in Maitland

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

Police have confirmed this morning's shooting incident at a home in Chisholm was bikie-gang related.

In response to escalating tensions between the Nomads and Finks Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs, Hunter police have announced the initiation of Strike Force Darnay to better monitor local bikie behaviour.

Around 1am this morning, police received reports of gunfire from neighbours and attended a home on Duskdarter Street, Chisholm.

They found the house's facade and a car parked out the front peppered with bullet holes.

It's understood the incident was a drive-by shooting, adding to a spate of crimes committed in the Maitland area over the past month.

Indeed, Detective Superintendent Wayne Humphrey says within the Hunter region, there have been six bikie-related public place shootings and two attacks involving Molotov Cocktails since January alone.

However, the Superintendent says the community needn't become frightened, due to the targeted nature of the attacks.

"We are very satisfied that this is a targeted attack.

"We believe there is no danger to the community, in terms of 'randomness' of attacks- this is a targeted attack between two groups undertaking this criminality."

Superintendent Humphrey says the crimes are difficult to investigate due to pacts made between gang members.

"They have a misguided code of silence and we've got to try to break that down...these people are victims of crime, despite the fact they may be members of the gang," he said.

Strike Force Raptor Officers from Sydney are still present in the Hunter to aid investigations, and Wayne Humphrey hopes now, with a specific Hunter taskforce, some real progress will be made.

The Nomads' Clubhouse at Islington and the Finks' base at Muswellbrook both remain declared as restricted premises, allowing police to enforce consorting laws.

Cracking down: Detective Inspector Wayne Humphrey announces Strike Force Darnay.