Man to Face Newcastle Court Today, Allegedly Stealing Bank Cards From Elderly Across the State

BY ISABEL EVERETT

A 45-year-old man is due to face Newcastle Local Court today, after allegedly defrauding elderly residents across the State.

Police will allege the man stole bank cards then called the cards owners, with 15 residents from retirement villages and residential complexes located in the Central Coast, Southern Highlands, Illawarra and Canberra receiving phone calls between January and April 2020, from a man purporting to be from their bank.

He was able to obtain information which enabled him to withdrawal cash from ATMs in East Maitland, Belmont, East Gosford, Tahmoor, Tuggerah Lakes, , Dapto and Canberra.

Investigators attended a home in Springfield, near Gosford, about 8.30am on Monday 25th May and arrested a 45-year-old man.

A search warrant was executed at the home a short time later, with officers seizing mobile phones, cannabis, banking documentation and clothing.

The man was taken to Woy Woy Police Station, where he was charged with 19 counts of dishonestly obtain property by deception, and possess prohibited drug.

He was refused bail and is due to face Newcastle Local Court today.

Investigations are continuing and police are reminding members of the public, especially vulnerable people such as the elderly, to never give their bank or personal details out.

Those who are concerned their details have been fraudulently obtained are urged to contact their local police station.

BREAKING! Police Seize $12,000 in Cash Allegedly Found in Freezer in Belmont South Home

BY ISABEL EVERETT

A man will appear in court today after  investigators seized more than $12,000 in cash and two firearms from a Belmont South home on Thursday morning. 

A 38-year-old man was charged after Police from Strike Force Raptor North executed a search warrant of the home just after 2am on Thursday the 5th of March.

During the search, officers seized two pistols, ammunition, electronic equipment and prohibited drugs believed to methylamphetamine.

Police also located $12,380 cash allegedly hidden inside a freezer.

The man allegedly fled from the home before being detained by officers, with assistance from the Dog Unit, a short distance away.

The man and a 23-year-old woman were arrested and taken to Belmont Police Station, before the woman was released pending further inquiries.

The man was charged with two counts of  possessing an unregistered firearm, two counts of possessing ammunition without a holding licence or permit, possessing a  prohibited drug and dealing with property proceeds of crime.

He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today.

Images Courtesy of NSW Police Force

Man Arrested at Hamilton over Alleged Extremist Activity

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

Counter Terrorism police have arrested a man at Hamilton over alleged extremist activity online.

Detectives began inquiries earlier this week after finding concerning posts on social media containing extreme right wing views.

When violent threats were made online, officers arrested the 43-year-old man near Cleary and Beaumont Streets shortly after 5:30 Thursday afternoon.

He's been charged with using a carriage service for harassment and is due to face Newcastle Local Court on Friday.

A mobile phone seized from the man will undergo forensic examination.

Police are encouraging anyone with information about extremist activity or threats to the community to come forward no matter how insignificant the information may seem.

Renae Lawrence Avoids Gaol Time For 2005 Car Chase

BY JARROD MELMETH

Bali Nine drug smuggler Renae Lawrence has avoided gaol time after being convicted of charges relating to car theft in 2005.

The 41-year-old faced Newcastle Local Court on Tuesday where she was placed on a 12-month community corrections order, disqualified from driving for three months and fined $1000.

Ms Lawrence had stolen a white Ford Laser hatch at Enfield at about 4am on March 26, 2005, and was driving at 130km/h in a 90 zone at Mooney Mooney before her arrest.

A month later she was caught at Bali Aiport with 2.7 kilograms of heroin strapped to her body and jailed for 20 years.

Renae Lawrence arrives at Newcastle Local Court for sentencing.
Image: Darren Pateman

Hunter Couple Accused Of Making Child Abuse Material

BY IAN CROUCH

A registered sex offender in the Hunter and his wife have faced court accused of making child abuse material.

The Herald reports the pair were arrested on Saturday and taken to Maitland Police Station where they charged with using a child aged 14 or older to make the material.

Newcastle Local Court has been told the man suffers from an intellectual disability and it's been recommended he be placed in protective custody ahead of his next court appearance on Wednesday.

Newcastle Policeman Accused of Assaulting a Woman

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A Newcastle policeman has been charged over an alleged assault in Newcastle last year.

The senior constable was arrested at Foreshore Park on November 25 last year for allegedly assaulting a 44-year-old woman.

Following investigations, the 31-year-old was arrested yesterday and charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault.

He will appear at Newcastle Local Court in March.

Man off to Court after Committing Indecent Acts in front of Boy at a Newcastle Beach

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A man will face Newcastle Local Court today, charged for allegedly committing act of indecency at Bar Beach.

Police say between Thursday January 18 and yesterday (Monday January 22), a 12-year-old boy went to the beach on Memorial Drive in Newcastle on several occasions with a family member.

The boy allegedly witnessed a man commit two acts of indecency while using the public change rooms.

The 12-year-old then saw the same man on the beach on yesterday at about 1pm and reported the incidents to lifeguards.

Newcastle City LAC officers attended and arrested the 75-year-old man.

He was taken to Newcastle Police Station where he was charged with two counts of commit act of indecency with person under 16 years and refused bail.

Man Off to Newcastle Court after a Breaking into an Islington Home

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A man has been charged after an alleged break and enter in Islington overnight.

Police say at about 1am a man broke into a home in Anderton Street and stole a handbag, wallet, car keys and Nissan Navara 4WD which was parked outside.

Officers from Newcastle City Local Area Command commenced an investigation and found the vehicle on Young Road, Broadmeadow.

The 33-year-old almost escaped the clutches of police after a short foot pursuit nearby.

He's been charged with aggravated break and enter, take and drive conveyance, goods in custody, and breach of bail. He was also refused bail.

The man faces Newcastle Local Court today.

Man with Kids in His Car Caught with Drugs and Cash on M1

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A man faced Newcastle Local Court yesterday after allegedly being caught with drugs and cash in his car on the M1.

Police say at about 12:15pm on Tuesday, a 51-year-old, was driving a sedan north on the M1 at Mandalong when he was stopped for speeding.

Police conducted a roadside drug test on the man which tested positive for cannabis.

Officers then searched the vehicle locating several bags of cannabis totally 2.4kg, 300 capsules of ecstasy (MDMA) and $11,500 in cash which police allege are the proceeds of crime. A knife was also seized.

Image NSW Police Force.

Two children and another adult were also in the car at the time.

The man was taken to Toronto Police Station where he was charged with possess prohibited drug, deal with property proceeds of crime, knowingly deal with proceeds of crime, possess prohibited drug (x5), supply cannabis (x2), possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit, supply prohibited drug, and custody of knife in public place.

He was refused bail.

Image NSW Police Force

More Charges for Man Who Lead Police on a Wild Pursuit Through Lake Macquarie

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The man responsible for leading police on a wild pursuit across Lake Macquarie last month is expected to be charged with further offences in court today.

Just after 10am on December 31, police attempted to stop a car being driven by a 22-year-old man at Wallsend.

The driver refused to stop and sped off leading police on a number of purists on the Hunter Expressway, Newcastle Link Road and on the M1 before the driver crashed and attempted to carjack a vehicle on the M1.

It didn't stop there, the driver then allegedly carjacked a different car after failing the first time, and was involved in another pursuit with police and attempted to carjack more vehicles.

He was eventually arrested after allegedly ramming an unmarked police vehicle and appeared in court last month on a number of charges relating to those incidents.

The man will face Newcastle Local Court today where he is expected to be charged with two counts of assault with intent to take motor vehicle, three counts of police pursuit - not stop (Skye's Law) and possess property stolen outside NSW.

EARLIER:

BREAKING! Wanted Man Arrested after Terrifying Pursuit in the Hunter

Man Stabbed in Altercation at Glendale

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A man is recovering in the John Hunter Hospital after allegedly being stabbed by a man known to him in Glendale.

Police say just before 7pm, an altercation allegedly broke out between a 45-year-old man and a 33-year-old-man at a unit on Claire Street.

The 45-year-old attacked the other man with a knife causing a puncture wound to the 33-year-old's chest before leaving the scene.

Police tracked down and arrested the 45-year-old and he was bail refused to appear at Newcastle Local Court this morning. He was charged with reckless wounding.

The motivation behind the incident is not yet known.

The 33-year-old's stab wound is non-life threatening and he remains in a stable condition in hospital.

Man Charged over Indecent Act in Front of 14-year-old Girls

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A man will face Newcastle Local Court today charged over allegedly committing an indecent act in front of two teenage girls in Edgeworth.

Police say two 14-year-old girls were walking along Main Road Edgeworth at about 8:30pm on Monday night (January 1, 2018) when a man allegedly approached them before committing an indecent act.

The girls ran away and told a family member who reported the incident with police.

Following inquiries, officers from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command attended a home in Edgeworth where they arrested a 48-year-old man and took him to Toronto Police Station.

He was charged with two counts of committing an aggravated act of indecency and refused bail.

Man Off to Court after Police Pursuit Through Wallsend

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A man will face Newcastle Local Court today after a police pursuit through Wallsend.

At about 3:35pm yesterday police attempted to pull over a Holden Commodore Sedan on Sandgate Road, but the vehicle accelerated away initiating a pursuit.

The pursuit was terminated a short time later due to the manner of driving, but the vehicle was eventually located on Lorna Street, Waratah West.

The 31-year-old driver had fled into nearby swamp land and was found hiding in a creek by Police from the Dog Unit.

The man was discovered to be a disqualified driver and also subject to a firearms prohibition order.

Police searched him allegedly finding a small amount of methylamphetamine and then searched the vehicle allegedly finding a 12 gauge sawn off shotgun.

He was taken to Waratah Police Station where he was charged with possess prohibited drug (x2), drive whilst disqualified, police pursuit (Skye’s Law), possess prohibited firearm, and breach firearm prohibition order (x2).

The 31-year-old was refused bail to face court today.

Man Charged Over Fatal Hit and Run in New Lambton

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A man has been charged after he allegedly hit and killed a man with his car in New Lambton.

At about 2:45am yesterday morning a 44-year-old man driving a Holden Statesman on Railway Road hit a 54-year-old man who stepped out on to the roadway.

The driver allegedly failed to stop, and drove from the scene.

The 54-year-old pedestrian suffered critical injuries and was rushed to John Hunter Hospital where he sadly died a short time later.

A crime scene was established, and at about 8am yesterday police arrested the 44-year-old man allegedly responsible for the incident.

He was taken to Waratah Police Station where he was charged with dangerous driving occasioning death, fail to stop and render assistance after impact causing death, negligent driving occasioning death, fail to stop and assist after impact causing injury, and not give particulars to injured person.

He was granted conditional bail and will face Newcastle Local Court on January 25.

Police are still appealing for any witnesses to the incident to come forward.

Man on the Run Caught in Warners Bay

BY JESSICA ROUSE

After being on the run since earlier this year, police have finally tracked down a Warners Bay man who was allegedly involved in several police pursuits.

Police from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command were tipped off to the whereabouts of the man by a stolen vehicle parked on Hillsborough Road yesterday.

After further inquiries, and with the assistance of the police dog, officers forced entry into a nearby motel room.

They found three people in the room including the 32-year-old man they were after and two other women.

Officers executed a search warrant and will allege they seized quantities of illegal drugs and more than $1,000 in cash.

The 32-year-old man was arrested and charged with break, enter & steal, predatory driving (x 2), drive conveyance without consent of owner (x 2), police pursuit (x 2), goods in custody (x 2), possess prohibited drug, possess equipment to administer prohibited drug and possess housebreaking implements.

He was refused bail to face Newcastle Local Court today.

The two women were also arrested without incident - A 25-year-old was issued a court attendance notice for possess prohibited drug and will appear in court next year. The other woman, a 35-year-old, was charged with be carried in conveyance and possess prohibited drug.

She was granted bail to appear at Belmont Local Court on January 10, 2018.

Son Charged with the Murder of His Father in Maryland

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A 21-year-old man will face Newcastle Local Court today, charged with the stabbing murder of his father in Maryland last night.

Police were called to Delray Court, Maryland just after 9 o'clock last night following reports of an assault.

Officers arrived to find a 52-year-old man lying in a front yard with multiple stab wounds from a knife to his chest and stomach.

Detective Chief Inspector Peter Mahon.

Detective Chief Inspector Peter Mahon said it appears the incident was sparked by an argument between the father and son over a phone.

"The investigation has revealed a 52-year-old male and his 21-year-old son were involved in an argument. We don't know what the argument was about at this stage. At about 9:15pm last night, the father has left the premises followed by his son and a further argument took place,"

"During that argument police will allege the son stabbed his father several times. The ambulance was called with the assistance of neighbours, and unfortunately, the father was unable to be revived and he passed away at the scene."

The Police Dog Unit was called in to track down the 21-year-old who was found in neighbouring parkland 1.5 kilometres away from the scene.

He was taken to Waratah Police Station where he was refused bail and charged with murder to appear at court today.

Detective Chief Inspector Mahon said the man refused to be interviewed by police.

The phone which the argument was allegedly over was found in parkland by the Police Dog Unit while they were searching for the son.

Detective Chief Inspector Mahon is thankful to the neighbours who tried to help the man in what was a tragic situation.

"It's happened in a person's front yard and they've witnessed it. So it was just tragic for everyone. Especially at this time of the year being Christmas."