Alleged Fraudster to Face Court Over $288,000 Dollar Deception

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

A Woodberry woman will face court next month accused of defrauding a local business of more than $250,000 dollars.

Investigations began in March into alleged fraudulent transactions at a Thornton business between June 2012 and May 2018.

It's alleged the 45-year-old transferred a $288,812 dollars from the business account to a number of personal bank accounts.

The woman was arrested at Raymond Terrace Police Station on Thursday and has been charged with 25 counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception.

The alleged fraudster has been granted strict conditional bail to face Maitland Local Court on Friday, October 11.

House Destroyed By Fire At Woodberry

BY IAN CROUCH

Fire has destroyed a home at Woodberry overnight.

Six fire trucks from Minmi, Tarro, Mayfield West and East Maitland were called to the single storey weatherboard and tile home on Tahlee Avenue just after 2.00am on Friday to find the unoccupied and boarded-up house engulfed in flames.

It's taken about 40 minutes to bring the fire under control, with crews wrapping up at the scene just before 4 o'clock.

Police are treating the fire as suspicious.

15 Guns Stolen In Separate Incidents at Singleton and Woodberry

BY IAN CROUCH

Hunter Valley Police have launched an investigation after 14 guns were stolen from a rural property at Singleton .

A 69-year-old man returned from a week's holiday on Monday night to find two shipping containers on his New England Highway property had been broken into.

Police say a gun safe inside one of the containers had been opened and six double barrel shotguns, eight rifles and two boxes of ammunition were stolen.

In a separate incident, a 22 calibre Savage rifle and ammunition were stolen from a gun safe on a property on Michael Hill Avenue at Woodberry over the weekend.

Anyone who can assist police with their inquiries is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Woman Rescued From Burning Home At Woodberry

BY IAN CROUCH

Firefighters have rescued a woman from her burning home at Woodberry overnight.

Emergency Services were called to a single level hardiplank home on Woodberry Road just before 1.30am on Monday to find the house well alight.

Newcastle Fire Command says a woman was removed from the burning building and treated at the scene by paramedics but refused to go hospital.

It's taken almost 3 hours to extinguish and mop up the fire which is believed to have started in the kitchen.