Man Stabbed In Lip And Robbed At Shortland

BY IAN CROUCH

A man has been stabbed in the lip during a violent armed robbery at Shortland.

Police say the 43-year-old was approached by two men in the driveway of a unit complex on Sandgate Road just before 5.00pm on Tuesday.

It's alleged one of the offenders stabbed the man through the lip with a screwdriver before the pair fled with his wallet and cash.

The man was taken to the John Hunter Hospital where he received stitches before being released.

Investigations are continuing.

Elderly Woman Treated After House Fire At Birmingham Gardens

BY IAN CROUCH

An elderly woman has been taken to hospital after a house fire at Birmingham Gardens.

30 firefighters from Wallsend, Lambton and Mayfield West were called to the single level weatherboard home on Sandgate Road at about 10pm on Thursday to find the house well alight.

They took about 20 minutes to put out the blaze which has left the home in ruins.

Police say an elderly resident was taken to hospital where she's been treated for shock and chest pains - she's reported to be in a stable condition.

The fire is being treated as suspcious and a crime scene has been established as investigations into the cause of the fire continue.

Man Arrested Over Shortland Bottle Shop Armed Robbery

BY IAN CROUCH

Police have made an arrest over an armed robbery on a Sandgate bottle shop earlier this week.

Just after 6pm on Monday, two men riding a motorbike stopped outside the Bottle Mart outlet on Sandgate Road.

One the men went inside and allegedly threatened a 55-year-old female attendant with a shortened double-barrel shotgun, demanding she open the register, before he took cash and left with his accomplice on the motorbike.

Just after 4pm yesterday, detectives arrested a 27-year-old man at an address on Blue Gum Road, Jesmond where they seized cash, firearms, an allegedly stolen credit card and drugs believed to be amphetamine and cannabis.

He's been refused bail to face Newcastle Local Court today charged with robbery while armed with a dangerous weapon, two counts of acquire prohibited firearm and possess ammunition.

Police are still trying to locate the alleged accomplice and are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

Police Investigate Armed Robbery At Shortland

BY IAN CROUCH

Police are investigating an armed robbery on a bottle shop at Shortland.

A motorbike pulled in to the Bottle Mart on Sandgate Road just after 6.00pm last night with a rider and pillion passenger on board.

The rider entered the store still wearing his full face helmet and threatened a 55-year-old woman working at the store with a shortened double-barrel shotgun while demanding cash.

He was given money from the cash register and rode off with his accomplice now riding the bike.

The man was wearing a black helmet, black jacket and blue jeans and a black back pack.

The accomplice was wearing a multi-coloured Motorcross style helmet with blue rimmed goggles with grey track pants and a grey hoodie.

Police want to speak to a customer who left the store just prior to the robbery