Drunk Mum Allegedly Caught Behind The Wheel At Merewether After School Pick-Up

BY IAN CROUCH

A 42-year-old woman is due to face court next month accused of high-range drink driving after picking up her two children from school at Merewether.

Officers stopped a Toyota RAV 4 on Frederick Street at on Monday afternoon where the female driver returned a positive breath test.

A secondary test at Newcastle Police Station allegedly returned a blood alcohol reading of point 239, more than 4 times the legal limit.

She's been granted conditional bail to face Newcastle Local Court on July 18.

Police have also suspended her licence and have lodged a child at risk report with the Department of Family and Community Sevices.

Special Commission Of Inquiry Into The Drug Ice Starts At East Maitland

BY IAN CROUCH

A Special Commission of Inquiry into the drug 'Ice' at East Maitland Courthouse has heard children as young as 12 are using the illicit drug in the Hunter.

The number of people over the age of 16 being hospitalised for crystal-meth related issues in the Hunter and Central Coast regions is above the state average and has increased dramatically in the past seven years.

The inquiry heard some teens are exchanging sex for the drug, placing them in captive-like situations with drug suppliers.

It's thought the exposure to parents who use Ice has desensitised children to the negative consequences of using the harmful stimulant.


The inquiry heard detox services for young people in the Hunter are almost non-existent, with many forced to go through withdrawal while in custody.

Special Commission of Inquiry into 'Ice' begins at East Maitland Courthouse

BREAKING! Newborn's Body Discovered at Stockton

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

Police are appealing for the public's assistance following a tragic discovery at Stockton this morning.

Emergency services were called to a home on Church Street around 7 o'clock, where the body of a newborn baby had been found abandoned in the backyard.

Police hold grave concerns for the child's mother, who may need to seek urgent medical treatment.

A police operation is still underway at the home and a post-mortem examination will be conducted to establish the baby's age and cause of death.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.

Anyone with information about the baby or the mother is urged to contact Newcastle detectives or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Singleton Council Imposes Level 1 Water Restrictions

BY IAN CROUCH

Falling dam levels has prompted Singleton Council to impose new water restrictions in the wake of one of the toughest droughts on record.

Water storage levels at the Glennies Creek Dam have dropped to 53 percent, with Level ONE water restrictions to come into force from Wednesday June 26.

It means watering lawns and gardens will be restricted to between 6am and 10am and 4pm and 10pm in winter.

Washing down walls and paved surfaces will also be banned.

Council will allow an amnesty period before imposing penalties from September 1 on anyone caught misusing water.

For residential properties, level 1 (low) restrictions mean:

·        Watering of lawns by watering systems, microsprays, drip systems, soaker hoses, non-fixed sprinklers and hand-held hoses may only occur between 6am to 10am and 4pm to 10pm daily in winter.

·        Watering of residential gardens by watering systems, microsprays, drip systems, soaker hoses, non-fixed sprinklers and hand-held hoses may only occur between 6am to 10am and 4pm to 10pm daily in winter.

·         Topping up or filling of garden water features is permitted.

·         Irrigation of new turf is permitted for one week after laying, which after level 1 restriction of watering lawns applies.

·         Washing down of walls or paved surfaces is not permitted.

Elderly Woman Taken To Hospital After Shortland Home Guttered By Fire

BY IAN CROUCH

A 76-year-old woman has been taken to the John Hunter hospital with smoke inhalation after a fire caused severe damage to a home at Shortland early on Tuesday.

Around 20 firefighters from Wallsend, Mayfield West, Lambton and Newcastle were called to to the single story clad home on Aden Street at about midnight to find the house well alight.

It's taken about 90 minutes to extinguish the fire - all the occupants managed to escape.

It's believed the fire started in the kitchen or dining room area, with an electrical fault the likely cause.

Good 'Old Fashioned Police Work' Nabs Would-Be Thief In Toronto Creek

BY IAN CROUCH

Officers have relied on old fashioned police work to arrest a would-be thief at Toronto.

The occupants of a home on Anzac Parade returned just after 1.00pm on Monday to find a man ransacking their residence.

He ran off dropping allegedly stolen items as he went.

Police were called and set up a perimeter, with a police dog tracking the man to a nearby creek.

They commandeered a boat and found the 22-year-old lying in mangroves trying to camouflage himself.

He's been refused bail to face Toronto Local Court today (Tuesday 19 June 2019) charged with break and enter.

A Police Dog Tracked The Alleged Offender To A Toronto Creek

Police Appeal For Witnesses To Road Rage Incident At Summerland Point

BY IAN CROUCH

Police are appealing for witnesses to a road rage incident in southern Lake Macquarie.

Police were called to reports of an assault at Cams Boulevard, Summerland Point last Wednesday, June 12th.

It's understood a verbal altercation occurred between the driver of a Blue Mazda CX5 and the driver of a Black Volkswagon at about 2.00pm on the Pacific Highway at Lake Munmorah just past the Elizabeth Bay Drive intersection.

The verbal exchange continued along Kanangra Drive and Summerland Road before both cars pulled over on Cams Boulevard.

Police say no-one was seriously injured and they're appealing for anyone with dash-cam footage to contact Crime Stoppers.