Man Gaoled For Threatening Paramedics With A Knife At Weston

 BY IAN CROUCH

A man who threatened to kill paramedics while armed with a knife at Weston has been gaoled for at least 8 months.

Paramedics were called to a warehouse on Johnson Avenue on Monday night to treat 53-year-old Rodney Allan Daley for low blood sugar.

But Cessnock Court heard yesterday he began screaming at the emergency service workers saying he was going to kill them, breaking free from family members and pulling out a 12cm knife before moving towards the paramedics who fled and called for help.

Daley pleaded guilty to being armed with intent to commit indictable offence and assault frontline health workers - no actual bodily harm.

He also pleaded guilty to separate charges of intentionally destroy property and unlawful entry.

Daley was handed a 16 month sentence with a non-parole period of 8 months.

Bushfires Threaten Homes In The Lower Hunter

 BY IAN CROUCH

More strike teams are heading to the Lower Hunter on Friday morning to relieve weary firefighters battling a huge bushfire near Cessnock.

Three separate fires joined to create a dangerous fast-moving fire which threatened the townships of Abermain, Kurri Kurri, South Weston and Pelaw Main.

The fire has burnt through more than 600 hectares leaving Teasdale Tyres at Weston in ruins along with a number of homes.

Although the fire is listed at Advice level, work is continuing to bring the blaze under control.

Inspector Ben Shepherd from the Rural Fire Service says the exact number of properties lost is yet to be determined.

"We have what we call building impact assessment teams. They'll move across the fire ground today just trying to establish what exactly has been lost," he said.

Six schools are closed on Friday due to the fire threat.

They include Abermain, KurriI Kurri, Edwards, Pelaw Main and Weston Public Schools as well as Stanford Merthyr Infants School.

Almost 1600 properties remain without power around Abermain, Weston, Sawyers Gully and Neath. Ausgrid hopes to have complex repairs competed by 10.00am on Friday.

Meanwhile, a fire which threatened homes at West Wallsend has also been downgraded to Advice level overnight and is now under control after burning through more than 60 hectares.

Many residents were forced to flee their homes but there are no reports of property damage.

Both the M1 Pacific Motorway and Leggetts Drive at Richmond Vale have re-opened to traffic.

Crews will again be on alert on Saturday, with an elevated fire risk expected.

Teasdale Tyres and a car on fire at the height of the blaze. Picture Sky News

Police Release Images Of Alleged Armed Robbery At Weston As Investigations Continue

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Police have released CCTV footage as they continue to investigate an alleged armed robbery at Weston.

Just after midnight on Friday the 30th of September 2022, officers were called to a licensed premises on Cessnock Road in Weston, following reports of an armed robbery.

Police were told two unknown males, both armed with machetes, entered the business and confronted patrons.

One 48-year-old man was struck with a machete, causing a laceration to his arm.

The males allegedly threatened staff and stole cash, before fleeing the scene on foot along Station Street.

As investigations continue under Strike Force Rubus, detectives have released CCTV footage of the incident and an image of a vehicle of interest.

The males are depicted wearing dark coloured clothing with their faces covered.

The vehicle of interest is described as being a small, dark coloured hatchback.

Anyone with information which may assist police is being asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. 

 

 

 

BREAKING! Crews Battling House Fire At Weston

 BY IAN CROUCH

Firefighters are battling a house fire at Weston.

Crews were called to the medium-sized single storey brick and tile home on O'Toole Street just before 5.00am on Thursday to find the house up in flames.

Newcastle Fire Command says the home is unoccupied and crews are in defensive mode, battling the flames from outside the property due to the intensity of the fire.

Crews from Kurri Kurri, Abermain, Kearsley and Maitland are at the scene, along with a Duty Commander and Inspector. 

BREAKING! Man Assaulted During Armed Robbery On Hotel At Weston

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police are searching for two men following an armed robbery on a hotel at Weston.

The pair entered the pub on Cessnock Road at 12.14am on Friday, with one of the men jumping onto the bar and threatening staff.

Police say a man was threatened and assaulted, suffering a minor cut to his arm.

The pair then fled with cash.

More to come.

Police Searching For Pair, Over Attempted Cessnock Home Invasion, Armed with Firearm and Stun Device

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Police are appealing for public assistance following an attempted home invasion in Weston at the weekend.

About 3.35am on Sunday August 16, five people – four men and one woman – were inside a home on Eighth Street, Weston, when two unknown men attended.

Police have been told one of the occupants, a 43-year-old man, answered the door and was confronted by the men who were armed with a firearm and an electronic stun device.

The pair demanded a set of car keys before a second occupant, a 49-year-old man, chased the men out of the home.

The pair were last seen heading west on Eighth Street.

No one was injured during the incident.

Officers from Hunter Valley Police District attended and have commenced an investigation.

Anyone with information which may assist is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Shed And Contents Destroyed In Overnight Fire At Weston

BY IAN CROUCH

Fire has destroyed a shed and its contents at Weston overnight.

Fire crews from Kurri Kurri, Cessnock, Abermain and Weston were called to Fourth Street just after 9 o'clock to find the shed at the rear of a home well alight.

A car and a boat stored inside the shed were also destroyed.

It's taken more than two hours to extinguish and mop up the blaze.

No-one was injured and the home itself wasn't damaged.

The cause of the fire is not known at this stage, but it's not thought to be suspicious.