Police Appeal For Dashcam Footage After Sickening Sex Attack On Teen Girl At Windale

BY IAN CROUCH

Lake Macquarie Police are hoping the community can help them find the perpetrator responsible for the shocking sex attack on a 14-year-old girl at Windale.

The girl got off a school bus just after 3.30 on Wednesday afternoon and was walking through her usual shortcut home through scrubland off Yertala Close when she was confronted by a man armed with a knife.

He dragged her into the bushes and sexually assaulted her before running away - it's believed he left the area in a silver coloured car.

He's described as being about 30 to 40 years old with a solid build, with a prominent nose and lips. He was wearing a dark hooded jumper, dark long pants and grey joggers. 

Superintendent Daniel Sullivan is urging anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage to come forward.

"We're calling on our community to come forward and provide any information that they may have. Provide that information through Crime Stoppers. When you ring Crime Stoppers, 1800 333 000, your information is completely anonymous - and any information no matter how small, may be able to assist us in this investigation at this stage," he said.

Police conduct a line search for clues near the scene of the crime. Picture theherald.com.au 

Superintendent Daniel Sullivan

Port Stephens Man Charged Over Online Child Exploitation

BY IAN CROUCH

A man is due to face Raymond Terrace Local Court today charged with grooming a child for sex.

In July, detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad began conversing online with a man from the Hunter region who thought he was speaking with a 14-year-old girl.

It's alleged he engaged in highly-sexualised conversations and made arrangements to meet the child for sex.

Following extensive investigations, strike force detectives arrested a 42-year-old man in the car park of the Salamander Bay Shopping Centre yesterday morning.

Police also seized two laptops and an electronic storage device from the man's Tanilba Bay home.

He's been charged with using a carriage service to procure a child under 16 for sex.

Watch as the man is taken into custody:-

Man Arrested Over Shortland Bottle Shop Armed Robbery

BY IAN CROUCH

Police have made an arrest over an armed robbery on a Sandgate bottle shop earlier this week.

Just after 6pm on Monday, two men riding a motorbike stopped outside the Bottle Mart outlet on Sandgate Road.

One the men went inside and allegedly threatened a 55-year-old female attendant with a shortened double-barrel shotgun, demanding she open the register, before he took cash and left with his accomplice on the motorbike.

Just after 4pm yesterday, detectives arrested a 27-year-old man at an address on Blue Gum Road, Jesmond where they seized cash, firearms, an allegedly stolen credit card and drugs believed to be amphetamine and cannabis.

He's been refused bail to face Newcastle Local Court today charged with robbery while armed with a dangerous weapon, two counts of acquire prohibited firearm and possess ammunition.

Police are still trying to locate the alleged accomplice and are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

Big Fun at Westfield Kotara, Expansion Unveiled

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

Newcastle's Thursday night shopping scene is shaping up to be electric this evening, with Westfield Kotara unveiling the first stage of its $160 million refurbishments today.

The ribbon cutting has taken place on 30 new and relocated stores, with flash mobs, children's entertainment and giveaways happening throughout the day as part of a four-day celebration.

Westfield Kotara Centre Manager Kate Murphy said the new space is a unique offering.

"This precinct will appeal to the Hunter's youth audience, and we've made sure it's synonomous with the region's surf, skate and lifestyle culture," she said.

"We're excited to bring a series of firsts to the new precinct - we have JB HIFI introducing a new technology and gaming experience. Customers will also be able to shop at an EB Games with Zing Pop combined and we have a new Shaping Bay at our Surf Dive 'n Ski store."

First-to-market retailers include Mr and Mrs Jones, W Hair Bar and Espresso Warriors, while favourites like Carla Swimwear, Industrie and Universal Store are also moving in.

Kmart has confirmed it will re-open its doors on November 29.

Some shops have reported a downturn in trade over the 12-month construction period, but Westfield is confident the retailers will sell-up big under the improvements.

Kate Murphy said they've also introduced a new, ticketless parking system.

"It'll allow our customers seamless passage on their entry and exit with no need for a paper ticket," Ms Murphy said.

"We're also really happy to announce we're introducing our new parking guidance system which will make it easy for our customers to find a park once they're here and spend more time doing what they love when they're in the centre."

In coming months, Westfield Kotara will extend the popular Rooftop eatery, and introduce the Hunter's only large format David Jones and the city's first Zara store.

New South Wales only state to not decriminalise abortion

BY SANZIANA TIMIS AND LAUREN FREEMANTLE

Queensland's vote to decriminalise abortion is sparking renewed calls for NSW parliament to do the same.

The Pregnancy Bill was passed last night removing abortion from the Queensland Criminal Code. 

Current laws in NSW prevent women from gaining abortions 'on demand' - they must instead undergo lengthy doctor evaluations, without a guarantee of the procedure.

The sunshine state's changes under the Termination of Pregnancy Bill will allow abortions to be requested at up to 22 weeks gestation.

The Bill will also establish safe access zones of 150 metres around the clinics to shield women from harassment.

NSW is currently the only Australian state where abortion remains illegal.

Newcastle health law expert, Catherine Henry believes there are many misconceptions still surrounding abortion.

"Most people don't realise that women and doctors performing abortion can be charged with a criminal offence, and that can, in fact, lead to a term of imprisonment," Ms Henry said. 

"NSW is well behind every state in the country," she continued, "as of last night, we are the only state, to have this very old-fashioned legislation introduced in the 1860s."

Source: https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/nsw-government-defends-victoria-s-safe-access-zones-in-high-court-20180530-p4zich.html

Sickening Sexual Assault of Teenager at Windale

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

A 14-year-old girl has been sexually assaulted by a man at Windale.

Police say the teenager had gotten off a bus on the Pacific Highway near South Street around 3:30pm yesterday and was walking in scrubland near Yertala Close when she was approached by a man armed with a knife.

It's alleged she was dragged into the bushes and sexually assaulted, before the man fled the scene in a silver vehicle.

Lake Macquarie Police and Child Abuse Detectives have created Strike Force Kielpa to investigate the incident.

A crime scene has been established and is today being examined by forensic detectives.

Officers are also conducting a high-visibility policing operation throughout the area to complement investigative strategies.

Green Flag awarded to Nelson Bay Foreshore park

BY SANZIANA TIMIS


The Nelson Bay Foreshore Regional Park has recieved the Green Flags Award in Melbourne, for their ongoing park maintence and “raising the quality” for parks and green spaces.

The park is visited by roughly a quarter of a million people each year, including tourists and residents.

The Foreshore park now joins the pool of thirteen other parks awarded across Australia, and is one of the first to recieve the award outside of capital cities.

The Green Flag Award originated in the UK in the 1990s, to encourage greater standards and maintenance of parks and green spaces.

The event was held at the International Parks and Leisure Congress in Melbourne, with applicants judged based off of 27 different criterias and on-site inspections for finalists.

Parks program coordinator, Michael Reay, says the award signifies recognition for the Port Stephens council and anyone who has assisted in maintaining the park. 

"Nelson Bay Foreshore is one of the premier destinations on the New South Wales coast for dolphin and whale watching."

"It's really rewarding for Port Stephens to be one of the first regional councils to be acknowledged for our park management, and for Nelson Bay  Foreshore to be seen as setting the benchmark for greenspaces across Australia."

                  Source:https://static.stayz.com.au/property/image/09/02/06/img_1_90206_ae30ee10f9623aa37c9a30e64eaba1ff_645x485.jpg