Man Hides in Roof after Violent Home Invasion at Weston

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A man will face Maitland Local Court today after stabbing a man during a violent home invasion in Weston on the weekend.

Police say at 2:30 yesterday morning (Sunday 19th November 2017) a 29-year-old man entered a home on Ninth Street through an unlocked door, allegedly armed with a 30cm hunting knife.

He allegedly attacked a 35-year-old man who was home at the time - punching him in the face several times and stabbing him in the left hand.

The offender ran off and the victim was taken to Cessnock Hospital for treatment and was last reported to have been in a stable condition.

At about 10pm last night police attended a home on Coulson Avenue, Cessnock to find the 35-year-old offender hiding in the roof cavity.

When police tried to bring him down he allegedly broke through the roof tiles, jumped off the roof and ran through several backyards before police used capsicum spray to arrest him.

He was refused bail and charged with aggravated break and enter with inflict actual bodily harm, aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence escape police custody, and resist officer in execution of duty.

More Arrests Made Over Terrifying Abermain Armed Robbery

BY JESSICA ROUSE

More charges have been laid over a terrifying hold-up at Abermain Bowling Club earlier this year.

Detectives have charged two more people over the June 19 robbery where a female employee was allegedly tied up with duct tape and $16-thousand dollars was stolen.

The State Crime Command's Robbery and Serious Crime Squad arrested a 33-year-old Weston man and a 29-year-old woman from Pelaw Main yesterday.

The man was refused bail and appears in Maitland Local Court today, the woman was also refused bail and will front Cessnock Local Court today.

They're not the first arrests over the incident, a 35-year-old man was arrested the day after the incident and charged with robbery whilst armed with a dangerous weapon, maliciously damage vehicle by fire, stealing and a number of traffic offences.

He is still before the courts.

Home invasion in Weston overnight

BY JARROD MELMETH

Police are on the hunt for three men following a home invasion, where a shotgun was fired overnight at Weston. 

The men with their faces covered and reportedly armed with a machete and a shotgun forced open the front door of a home on Fourth Street, at around 10:30pm on Monday night.

The men confronted a 69-year-old male resident inside the home and demanded money before assaulting him. A 52-year-old woman in the home was also assaulted during the incident.

After leaving the premises with a small amount of cash, the men discharged the shotgun into the front door, narrowly missing the female resident.

The three men were last seen leaving the scene in a small silver or dark-coloured hatchback.
The man was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics for a bruised eye and a swollen jaw and nose, while the woman received cuts and bruises to her face.

Both did not require hospitalisation and are seeking further medical treatment today.

Police from Central Hunter Local Area Command established a crime scene and have commenced investigations into the incident which is believed to be targeted.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Maitland Police or Crime Stoppers.

Eight charged with drug related offenses in the Hunter

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A number of arrests were carried out yesterday in the areas of Abermain, Weston and Chisholm  leading to the arrest of five males and three females.

Strike Force Oleria have been investigating the supply of prohibited drugs since October this year, and carried out six search warrants and six crime scene warrants in relation to drug operations.

48 police from Central Hunter Local Area Command were deployed to carry out the arrests.

All eight people were charged with drug related offenses and refused bail to appear in Maitland Local Court today.

Surgery for Victim of Sword Attack

BY BRIDGET GUNN

A man whose hand was almost severed following an alleged attack by a man wielding a sword has been taken into surgery today to reattach the hand.

The victim was allegedly hit above the wrist as he attempted to defend himself outside his home in Weston on Saturday Morning.

The man was taken to the John Hunter Hospital and stabilised over the weekend before his surgery today.

Police are still on the hunt for the attacker.

Fire Engulfs Garages at Weston

BY IAN CROUCH

 Fire has destroyed two garages and a caravan at Weston this morning.

5 fire trucks responded to a Triple-Oh call to the Fourth Street property just after 8 o'clock to find the garages and caravan well alight.

It's taken firefighters more than an hour to contain the fire.

No-one's been injured.

Crews are still mopping up and blacking out hot spots.