Merewether Man Accused Of Pointing Loaded Gun At Nightclub Patron

BY IAN CROUCH

A Merewether man is facing up to 14 years gaol after he allegedly took a loaded handgun into a Newcastle nightclub.

Fairfax reports 28-year-old Jake Thomas McDougall faced Newcastle Bail Court yesterday charged with several firearm offences.

Police were called to a hotel in Steel Street on Saturday night after a patron complained he'd been threatened by a man wielding a pistol.

McDougall has been charged with possess prohibited firearm; intimidate intend fear, physical or mental harm; possess loaded firearm in public place, possess unregistered firearm - pistol; not keep firearm safely -  pistol.

He was refused bail to reappear in court this Thursday.

Loaded Gun Found In Car Stopped At East Maitland

BY IAN CROUCH

A man is facing a raft of charges after police allegedly found a loaded gun in his car at East Maitland.

Officers stopped a vehicle for a random breath test on Cecily Close at about 10.00pm on Wednesday.

The 42-year-old driver returned a negative result but police say they found him in possession of crystal meth.

They then searched the car, finding the loaded handgun in the centre console and arrested the man.

A house in Cecily Close was searched a short time later and a rifle fitted with a scope and homemade silencer were seized, as well as multiple rounds of ammunition for a variety of firearms.

The man was taken to Maitland Police Station where he was charged with eight offences:

• Possess unregistered unauthorised prohibited firearm in a public place
• Possess loaded pistol in a public place
• Possess unregistered firearm/prohibited firearm
• Not keep firearm safely – prohibited firearm
• Alter firearm so as to convert it to a prohibited firearm
• Possess ammunition without holding a licence, and
• Possess prohibited drug (two counts).

The man was refused bail and will appear in Maitland Local Court today (Thursday 1 March 2018).