Teenager Hands Himself In After High Speed Pursuit Near Cessnock

BY IAN CROUCH

A teenager who allegedly led police on a high speed pursuit near Cessnock will front court next month after handing himself in.

Police say they spotted the 17-year-old driving a PT Chrysler Cruiser at excessive speed through the Hunter Economic Zone just after 6.00pm on Wednesday.

They initiated a pursuit when the car failed to stop.

But the driver came unstuck when he turned off Hospital Road into dense bushland at Kurri Kurri a short time later, reversing into two police cars before speeding away.

The Cruiser was found dumped at Pelaw Main.

While officers were waiting for a tow truck, the 17-year-old returned with a support person and was arrested.

He's been charged with Skyes Law and dangerous driving and has been granted conditional bail to face Kurri Kurri Local Court on November 26.

Man Caught Red-Handed After Break-in At Raymond Terrace Pharmacy

BY IAN CROUCH

A man is due front court today accused of stealing drugs from a Raymond Terrace pharmacy.

Police say patrons of a local hotel noticed a man kicking in the windows at the Cincotta Chemist on Benjamin Lee Drive just after 8.30pm on Tuesday.

Officers arrived a short time later and arrested a 22-year-old man from Raymond Terrace.

He was allegedly in possession of Benzodiazepine tranquilliser drugs taken from the pharmacy.

The man's been refused bail to face Raymond Terrace Local Court today (Wednesday) charged with break, enter and steal.

BREAKING! Firey Crash Involving Four Trucks On M1 At Halloran

BY IAN CROUCH

A fiery crash involving four trucks is causing major delays on the  M1 Pacific Motorway at Halloran on the Central Coast.

Newcastle Fire Command says a B-Double carrying Woolworths goods was travelling through the roadworks zone heading north just past the Sparks Road overpass at about 2.10am on Wednesday when it crashed into three work trucks that were stopped at the location.

The B-double caught alight with the fire quickly spreading to the other heavy vehicles involved in the crash.

Thankfully no-one has been injured.

The crash closed both sides of the M1 but the southbound lanes re-opened to traffic just after 4am, although there is a traffic queue of 5 kilometres.

Northbound lanes remain closed with diversions in place as firefighting operations continue.

University charity Out(fit) launches Mobile Design Hub

BY SAMANTHA COOKE AND HANNAH-LOUISE ANDERSON

A University of Newcastle based charity organisation has launched a new multipurpose trailer called 'Dotty' aid in bringing design assistance to regional New South Wales communities.

Out(fit), an initiative run through the School of Architecture and Built Environments, aims to provide save havens and facilities to underprivileged groups while simultaneously giving architecture and design students a chance to learn new skills in real world scenarios.

Thanks to a $123 000 grant from the Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation, the newly constructed multipurpose trailer will allow the organisation to facilitate mobile project management as well as community pop-up events to raise awareness and crowd-fund. 

Out(fit) Founder and Head of School of Architecture and Built Environment, Professor SueAnne Ware says Dotty will allow the organisation extend its reach to further communities and provides students with unique learning opportunities.

"Dotty allows us to go on the road and we already have a few places lined up in places like Taree and Windale." she says. 

Chair of Newcastle Permanent's Charitable Foundation Phil Neat said the foundation understands the importance for a project like this being initiated across regional New South Wales. 

"These people are marginalized, their isolated, or people who are looking for better community outcomes," he said.

Image belonging to Out(fit) 

Pair Charged Over Teen Sex Assault at Nelson Bay

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

Police have charged two men over the alleged sexual touching of a teenager at Nelson Bay.

Investigations began in May in response to reports a 14-year-old girl had been sexually touched by two men she did not know.

On Monday afternoon, Port Stephens Hunter Police officers arrested a 36-year-old Salt Ash man.

It follows the arrest of a 31-year-old man at Port Macquarie last month.

Both men have been charged with three counts of intentionally sexually touching a child between the ages of 10 and 16.

It's alleged the pair sexually touched the teenager at a public toiler near Victoria Parade, Nelson Bay, in February this year.

The Salt Ash man was refused bail and is due to face Maitland Local Court on Tuesday.

The younger man faced court after his arrest and was granted strict conditional bail to reappear at Port Macquarie Local Court next month.

Students Protest for An End to Rape Culture

BY KEELY JOHNSON

Over 50 students and community members rallied outside Swansea High School this morning, to show their support for students condemning rape culture. 

Students Reece Hill, Ngara Kennedy, Natalia Nikolic and Marnie Hol organised the event after their teacher allegedly made comments suggesting that women’s choice of clothing could provoke sexual assault and that men constantly fight the urge to rape.

A video of the students having an argument with their teacher about the comments was posted on Thursday and has since received more than 117,000 views.

Reece Hill says the students involved had no intention to slander the school for one teachers actions, however, they are calling for the teacher to be fired. 

"We hope she will no longer be able to teach in school, we do not think that someone who has that mindset and think it's ok to teach these things should be around young and impressionable minds," said Hill. 

Swansea MP Yasmin Catley has shown her support for the students and is calling for the Department of Education to conduct a 'transparent' and 'thorough' investigation into the incident. 

"I am so proud of these young people being active today," Yasmin Catley said, "We want our young people to have a voice and be independent thinkers and that is exactly what was demonstrated today."

Catley says there is an urgent need to end 'rape culture' and begin teaching about 'respectful relationships' in the classroom. 

"We need to end the culture of victim blaming and what we've been reminded of by the comments from the students is that rape is not caused by a woman wearing a short skirt, rape is caused by rapists," said Catley. 

2NURFM understands the Department of Education has launched an investigation into the incident. 

Swansea High School students at the protest this morning. Imaged sourced from the ABC.

Crews Battle Fire At Warners Bay Indian Restaurant

BY IAN CROUCH

Firefighters are mopping up a fire an Indian restaurant at Warners Bay.

5 fire engines were called to the Bay Of India on the corner of King and John Street just before 6.30am on Monday to find a fire in the rear storage area.

They've managed to contain the blaze to restaurant and prevent it spreading to nearby shops.