$150,000 Worth of Cannabis Seized near Karuah

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

Port Stephens Hunter Police have uncovered more than $150,000 dollars worth of cannabis and multiple hydroponic setups at a property north of Karuah.

Officers searched a property on Warraba Road at The Branch on Wednesday morning, where they allegedly located and seized more than 11 kilograms of cannabis, several cannabis plants, 2 hydroponic setups and drug paraphernalia.

Police spoke with a 36-year-old man at the property and issued him a court attendance notice for drug possession and supply and cultivating and possessing a prohibited plant.

He's due to face court on January 15.

BREAKING! Teen Girl To Face Court Over Alleged Armed Robbery On Charlestown Pizza Store

BY IAN CROUCH

A 15-year-old girl is due to face a children's court today accused of an armed robbery on a pizza store at Charlestown overnight.

Police say the girl entered the Crust outlet on the Pacific Highway just on closing time at 9.00pm on Wednesday and threatened a female worker with a broken bottle.

The worker fled the store as the girl allegedly helped herself to 5 bottles of spirits, cash and the victim's mobile phone.

No customers were in the store at the time.

The girl was arrested as she left the Charlestown McDonalds outlet at 11.30pm - police say she was intoxicated at the time.

Police say most of the alcohol and cash was found in her backpack.

Girl Found Unconscious In Family Car At Tanilba Bay

BY IAN CROUCH

Port Stephens detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the discovery of a 5-year-old girl found unresponsive in a car at Tanilba Bay.

Ambulance crews were called to a family home at about 4.00pm on Tuesday to find the little girl inside a car parked in the driveway.

It's understood paramedics treated her at the scene and placed in an induced coma before she was flown to the John Hunter Hospital by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter in a critical condition.

Breakthrough In Investigation Into Disappearance Of Lake Macquarie Teens 40 Years Ago

BY IAN CROUCH

Strike force detectives investigating the abduction and suspected murder of two teenage girls 40 years ago have made a major breakthrough.

18-year-old Robyn Hickie and 14-year-old Amanda Robinson were abducted at or near bus stops on the Pacific Highway at Belmont North and Swansea within two weeks of each other in 1979

News Limited reports police are now looking into the movements of a 58-year-old successful businessman who currently lives on the Gold Coast.

The former Hunter Valley man was recently granted bail in Queensland over a separate rape and sexual assault offences.

Detectives say a unique, green Holden Torana could also hold the key to proving the identity of the person responsible.

Backpacker killer, Ivan Milat had been a suspect in the girl's disappearance but denied any involvement during an inquest in 2002.

Robyn Hickie

Amanda Robinson

Police believe a unique, green Torana could hold a vital clue

45 Additional Assault Charges Laid Against Newcastle Man

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

A Newcastle man already before the courts is now facing 45 additional sexual assault charges.

The 32-year-old was first arrested in August and charged with 10 offences, following investigations into reported indecent assaults alleged to have occurred between 2005 and 2014.

Following further inquiries, officers on Wednesday arrested the man for a second time.

The new charges include 26 counts of aggravated sexual assault and 7 counts of inciting an underage person to commit an indecent act.

He remains bail refused and will face the new charges at Newcastle Local Court on December 19.

Driver Killed on New England Highway

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

Police have confirmed a woman has been killed in a serious crash in the Upper Hunter.

A car and truck collided at the intersection of the New England Highway and Glennies Creek Road at  Camberwell, north of Singleton about 10:40am.

The driver of the car died at the scene.

The male truck driver has been taken to Singleton Hospital for mandatory testing.

The New England Highway is expected to be closed for several hours as police conduct investigations.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.

EXCLUSIVE! Off-Duty Detective Assaulted By Alleged Speeding Driver At East Maitland

BY IAN CROUCH

A man is due to front court today accused of assaulting an off-duty police officer at East Maitland on Tuesday night.

The Detective Senior Constable was walking his dog along Park Street just before 8.00pm when it's alleged he saw a car being driven at high speed for 100 metres down the road. It's claimed the car then skidded sideways into a corner and took off before returning and stopping in the street.

The officer yelled out to the 32-year-old man who was driving the car, saying there were children in the street.

Police say the man then crossed the road and threatened the detective, challenging him to a fight.  The officer tried to walk away but it's alleged the man threw a punch which missed, with the man grabbing the detective.

The pair became involved in a violent struggle as the detective's partner called for help.

Police arrived a short time later and arrested the man - he's been refused bail on 7 charges including assault police, negligent driving and driving under the influence of alcohol and is due to face Maitland Local Court today.

The detective suffered minor injuries to his chest, hand, elbow and lip and is expected to return to work today.