Police Ramp Up Hunt For Driver Involved In Hit And Run At Mayfield West

BY IAN CROUCH

Police are stepping up efforts to catch the driver responsible for a fatal hit and run incident at Mayfield West last year.

91-year-old Bernie Farrell died in hospital three days after being knocked down by car on Maitland  Road on November 24 as he was walking to get a hair cut.

Strike force Petro has been established to investigate the incident.

Meanwhile, Mr Farrell's daughter is pleading for the driver to do the right thing and come forward.

Hit-Run Victim Bernie Farrell. Picture: the herald.com.au

Police Track Down Driver who was Caught on Camera Driving Dangerously

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Police say they've arrested the driver who was seen driving erratically at Gillieston Heights over the weekend.

Just after 11:35 yesterday morning, a member of the public filmed a Nissan Skyline GTR allegedly driving dangerously on Cessnock Road. The car is seen driving onto the wrong side of the road into oncoming traffic.

The footage was posted online and quickly went viral.

Police became aware of the footage and commenced inquiries. They located the car on Maitland Road at Cessnock at about 12:40pm.

The 39-year-old driver was arrested and taken to Cessnock Hospital to undergo blood and urine testing.

He was taken to Cessnock Police Station where he was charged with drive manner dangerous; negligent driving; overtake to left of vehicle; and not keep left of dividing line.

The man was given bail to appear at Kurri Kurri Local Court on January 11, 2018.

Doors Locked On Would-Be Armed Robber At Mayfield

BY IAN CROUCH

Locked doors have foiled a would-be armed robber at Mayfield early Thursday morning.

A man armed with a knife went to the 7-11 on Maitland Road just before 3.00am, but couldn't get inside the store because the attendant had locked the doors.

He kicked the front doors before leaving the area.

The man's described as being 180 centimetres tall with blonde hair and was wearing a black track suit.

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

Police Release CCTV Image of Wanted Man

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Police are still on the hunt for a man who held up a fast food restaurant in Mayfield this week.

A man allegedly entered the KFC on Maitland Road at about 11:40pm on Tuesday (7th November 2017) night threatening staff with a knife and demanding cash.

He got away with a quantity of cash from the till and fled along Corona Street.

Staff contacted police who established a crime scene - no one was injured.

The person depicted is described as being of Caucasian appearance, large build and short, light brown hair. In the CCTV image, he's seen wearing a black long sleeve jumper, grey tracksuit pants, no shoes and a red shirt/bandana around his neck and face.

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

Image NSW Police

Man at the Centre of Road Rage Incident Handed 2-year Good Behaviour Bond

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The driver who pleaded guilty to a road rage incident in Sandgate has been handed a two year good behaviour bond.

Shane Nicholson from Branxton faced Maitland Court yesterday where he was also ordered to pay $2600 worth of fines and was disqualified for 18 months from driving.

The 37-year-old deliberately rammed a driver on Maitland Road back in August.

He said he just "lost it" after video of the incident went viral.

EARLIER:

Accused Sandgate Road Rage Driver Pleads Guilty

Footage of the incident went viral.

Ambulance Transporting Patient Luckily Drives past another Accident on Maitland Road

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Emergency services are on the scene of a car and truck accident on Maitland Road at Sandgate.

In what could be a lucky turn of events, just before 1:15pm an ambulance transporting another patient drove past the scene.

One 67-year-old male is trapped and being extracted - he's reportedly suffering spinal and stomach pain.

A 63-year-old woman has been taken to the John Hunter Hospital and is being treated for shoulder pain.

There are some traffic delays with one southbound lane closed.

Hunter region's soldiers remembered 100 years on

BY MARISSA ALEXIOU

Soldiers who lost their lives in the Passchendaele Campaign in World War 1 will be remembered in a 100th-anniversary memorial service at Sandgate cemetery today.

Soldiers faced appalling weather conditions throughout the battle, with only 90 out of the 508 soldiers coming out uninjured, with a number of Newcastle soldiers on the frontline.

Private Stephen Sarsfield Scott who served in 'Newcastle's Own' 35th Battalion will be one of the many soldiers remembered.

His great, great nephews will be attending the memorial service,

Regional Manager of Sandgate Cemetery Glen Aimes said they are looking forward to seeing as much of the community as possible, with 150-200 people expected to attend.

"It is critical we continue to remember the soldiers and the battles they fought," he said.

Starting at 10am, the service will include the revealing of a cross built by the Morpeth Mens' Shed, representatives from the Newcastle's RSL sub-branch, Australian Armed Forces Re-Enactment Heritage Unit and Callaghan College Wallsend Campus Band will be playing in the service.

The event will be held at Sandgate Cemetery, Maitland Road - Catholic Section 1.

Source: Australian War Memorial

Drivers Rejoice! Speed Limit Back to 80km/hr on Maitland Road

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Motorists are being advised that the 80km/hr speed limit is back on Maitland Road at Sandgate after months of safety works.

Roads and Maritime Services carried out maintenance work on Ironbark Creek Bridge which involved upgrading the central median and bridge barriers to ensure its safe use into the future.

There will be slight changes to traffic conditions with line marking and other work still being completed.

It's back to 80km/hr from 5am tomorrow.

Man Charged Over Road Rage Incident At Sandgate

BY IAN CROUCH

The driver allegedly involved in a road rage incident at Sandgate at the weekend has handed himself in to police.

Dashcam footage of the incident went viral after it showed a white four-wheel-drive ramming a P-plate driver in the right hand lane on Maitland Road on Saturday afternoon.

The driver of the first car did not stop and the driver of the second car reported the incident to police. No one was injured as a result of the crash.

Following inquiries, a 47-year-old man attended Singleton Police Station about 4.00pm yesterday (Monday 21 August 2017).

He was issued a court attendance notice for the offences of drive motor vehicle menaces another with intent, negligent driving, drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous, and not give particulars to other driver.

He is expected to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 5 October 2017.

Shocking road rage caught on camera at Sandgate

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Police are finalising their investigations into a shocking act of road rage in Sandgate over the weekend.

A P-plater driving a 4-wheel-drive in the right-hand lane of Maitland Road was rammed by a Toyota Landcruiser on Saturday.

The footage shows the Landcruiser then speeding away leaving the other driver to pull over on the side of the road.

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

Police on the hunt for a man who robbed a taxi driver in Raymond Terrace

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Police are still on the hunt for a man who held up a taxi driver in Raymond Terrace last week.

Just after 6pm last Saturday (15th July 2017) a 33-year-old taxi driver collected a man on Maitland Road in Mayfield.

The taxi got as far as Morgan Crescent in Raymond Terrace when the man allegedly pulled out a knife and held it to the taxi driver's throat and demanded cash.

The driver gave the man cash and he then left.

The man was last seen running in a westerly direction along Morgan Street and is described as being aged in his 30s, approximately 177cm tall, of medium build with a beard and a tattoo on the right side of his neck.

Anyone with any information is being urged to contact officers at Raymond Terrace Police Station as investigations continue.

Police want to speak with this man.

Worker threatened by a man wielding a knife in Muswellbrook

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A 34-year-old man will face Singleton Local Court today after alleged armed robbery and domestic violence charges at Muswellbrook.

Police have been told at about 2:45pm yesterday a man working at a motel on Maitland Road was threatened by the 34-year-old armed with a knife and demanded cash.

The man left on foot and a short time later was allegedly involved in a domestic violence incident in Ruthwhite Avenue.

Hunter Valley officers attended and had to use a taser to subdue the man during the arrest.

He was taken to Muswellbrook Police Station where he was charged with robbery armed with an offensive weapon, common assault (DV), two counts of breaching an AVO, and two counts of destroying or damaging property (DV).

He was refused bail.

Tributes for 'The Man in the Doorway'

BY IAN CROUCH and JESSICA ROUSE

Floral tributes have been left outside a unit on Maitland Road at Mayfield for a man known to locals as 'The Man in the Doorway'.

There's been an outpouring of emotion for Bernie Sessions who passed away last week after a long battle with mental illness.

The 45-year-old would spend most days sitting on a blue milk crate outside his unit cheerfully waving to passers-by.