Hand-cuffed Prisoner Makes a Run For It in Maitland

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A prisoner's attempt to escape police custody hasn't quite gone to plan.

The 21-year-old was taken back to Maitland Police Station yesterday after facing Maitland court charged with alleged stealing, and while handcuffed and being taken out of a police van he made a run for it.

He managed to get to the back of the police compound and tried to scale a perimeter fence but police were hot on his heels and dragged him down.

While getting him down, the man cut his hand and was taken to hospital for first aid treatment.

The man was then charged with attempted escape lawful custody.

The 21-year-old was originally charged with allegedly stealing the cigarette machine from Shenanigans in Maitland on November 14. He was refused bail in court.

Image triplem.com.au

Family lucky to escape after fire engulfed their home in Belmont

BY IAN CROUCH and JESSICA ROUSE

A family has been lucky to escape their home in Belmont North overnight when it was engulfed by fire.

Just after 10:30pm fire crews from Belmont and Tingira Heights arrived to find a fire which started in the garage and spread to the roof of the home in Bimbadeen Close.

Fire caused extensive damage to the home.

Police say while they're not treating the fire as suspicious, crime scene investigators will return later this morning to determine how it started.