Hunter Police Warn Of "Dating Scams", As Local Victim Faces Court

ISABEL EVERETT

Police are warning Hunter residents to be vigilant against online 'dating scams' - with vulnerable people being conned out of thousands of dollars.

As part of National Scam Awareness Week, Lake Macquarie Police are reminding people of the danger of sending money to new partners met online.

Commander of the NSW Police, Financial Crimes Squad, Detective Superintendent Lynda Howlett  says there is an increasing number of people falling victim to these kinds of crimes.

"During Covid-19 isolation people are looking to engage with people outside the home and they're meeting people online, and unfortunately there are a lot of scammers out there who take advantage of innocent victims."

"Be careful about what you disclose about yourself, don't provide too much information."

Superintendent Howlett says there are some key warning signs that you may be dealing with a scammer.

"A lot of the offenders wont go out of their way to meet the victims, they'll always come up with an excuse."

"They might come up with a sob story saying they need money for food or they're stuck in another state, they'll come with any excuse to play on your emotions."

"As soon as they start asking you for money cut them off and have nothing to do with them."

This comes as Hunter woman, Debra Lee-Ann Costelloe faced Newcastle District Court on Wednesday, after she passed $164,000 through her bank account, involved in the proceeds of crime, at the hands of a dating scammer.

Ms Costelloe was given a conditional release order, with parole supervision until August 2022. 

Superintendent Howlett says many victims can end up involved in crime. 

"A lot of victims will be asked to transfer or hold money on someone else's behalf, or to pay a fine or money to a third party. "

"You could still face serious charges that's why you need to show caution, and if you have any suspicions please report it to police."

Image Credit: ACC Scam Watch

Alleged Head of Hunter Drug Syndicate Facing Trial

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A Raymond Terrace man has been committed to face trial on 35 drug and firearm related offences.

Jason Christopher Gibson, the alleged head of a Hunter drug and firearm syndicate, has been in Cessnock Correctional Centre since he was arrested during a police raid in November last year.

Detectives say he and his associates consorted with outlaw motorcycle gangs including the Nomads and Finks.

It's also alleged the 24-year-old tried to supply drugs and firearms to an undercover officer at a fast food restaurant in Rutherford in August last year.

Detectives from Strike Force Wilwendam swooped on homes in Gillieston Heights, Rutherford, Telarah and Raymond Terrace last November, arresting five people including Jason Christopher Gibson, and allegedly seized a shotgun, ammunition and a quantity of drugs.

The 24-year-old heads back to Newcastle District Court next month to formally enter his pleas.

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Newcastle GP Pleads Not Guilty to Sexual Assault of 46 Women

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A Newcastle immunologist accused of sexually assaulting 46 women has pleaded not guilty.

Dr Jeremy Coleman's trial is underway in Newcastle District Court where he stands accused of assaulting the 46 women at his Watt Street clinic between 1989 and 2013, where he treats skin conditions and allergies.

Newcastle District Court has heard he conducted internal examinations with no medical purpose whatsoever - he would allegedly shift the conversations in his consultation room from allergies and immunology to sex.

His defence barrister Pauline David is disputing any examination was done without a proper medical purpose and claims every time he touched a patient it was solely medical purpose.

The court heard the 64-year-old often didn't wear gloves, watched his victims get undressed, touched them inappropriately and even encouraged some patients to get down on all fours and stick their bottoms in the air so he could inject nasal spray.

Coleman has seen 40,000 patients during his 40 year career and conducted 150,000 consultations.

The trial is expected to last six months.

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Trial begins for man who took a bulldozer on a path of destruction through Teralba

BY JESSICA ROUSE

It was an unwanted demolition job which took just 15 minutes in 2015 when a man stole a bulldozer and took it on a path of destruction through a Teralba street.

Jamie Sager's trial has started in Newcastle District Court where he is standing trial for intending to endanger the lives of three female occupants who lived inside a home where he once lived.

He has admitted to the bizarre crime but pleaded not guilty to deliberately intending to endanger the lives of the three people in the Weir Road home.

The 50-year-old once lived there but the court heard yesterday the friendship between him and the three other occupants soured when he was kicked out. It reportedly sparked an irrational desire to get revenge.

Along the path of destruction, Jamie Sager took out four cars and a boat as well as the home.

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Hunter Volunteer Firefighter Pleads Guilty to Deliberately Lighting Fires

BY GEORGIA LUPTON

A probationary member of the Rural Fire Service has pleaded guilty to a number of offences relating to deliberately lit fires around the Hunter.

21-year-old Alex Forth of Aberglasslyn faced court yesterday after being charged with four counts of intentionally cause fire and be reckless as to its spread, and making false call to emergency service number.

The volunteer firefighter, a member of the Lochinvar brigade, lit fires within its patrol area including places such as Sawyers Gully, Lochinvar, Keinbah and Bishops Bridge.

The court heard the 21-year-old lit the fires using ammunition including molotov cocktails to be called out to fight the fires, curing his boredom.

It was heard other members of the brigade became suspicious of Forth due to a "significant spike" in the amount of fires shortly after he joined the brigade.

Suspicions grew further when Forth mentioned a fire before it was reported to other members and on another occasion, arrived at the fire station within minutes of the Rural Fire Service being notified of the fire.

The court heard on some occasions, the 21-year-old would even call emergency services to report fires he had lit.

He was arrested at the Lochinvar Fire Station on 28th of April this year.

The accused will be sentenced in Newcastle District Court next year.