Category: Newcastle News

A man has been charged following an investigation into the alleged sexual abuse of young children in the state’s north.
In March 2021, detectives from Lake Macquarie Police District established Strike Force Friar to investigate multiple reports of child sexual abuse that occurred between 1993 and 2020.
Following extensive inquiries, investigators arrested a 64-year-old man, with the assistance of the State Crime Command’s Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad, at Swansea about 8.30am yesterday (Monday 20 December 2021).
The Marks Point man was taken to Belmont Police Station where he was charged with 26 offences,

• Indecent assault with victim under the age of 10 (13 counts)
• Indecent assault person under 16 years of age
• Sexual intercourse with person under the age of 10 (three counts)
• Aggravated indecent assault – victim under the age of 16 (three counts)
• Commit act of indecency with person under 16 years (two counts)
• Commit act of indecency with person under 10 years
• Sexually touch another person without consent, and
• Carry out sexual act with another without consent (two counts)

Police will allege in court that the man sexually abused seven children – who were known to him – in the Lake Macquarie and Narrabri areas between 1993 and 2020.
He was refused bail and appeared in Belmont Local Court on the same day, where he was formally refused bail to appear in the same court on Wednesday 16 February 2022.

A motorcyclist has died following a crash in the state’s Hunter region.
About 4.20am today (Saturday 18 December 2021), emergency services were called to Old Maitland Rd, Sawyers Gully, about 20km north east of Cessnock, after reports a motorcycle had crashed.
The rider – a 48-year-old man – died at the scene.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District established a crime scene and an investigation commenced into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

A man has been charged after allegedly blowing more than six times the legal limit after a crash in the Hunter overnight.
Just after 11pm (Friday 17 December 2021), emergency services were called to the intersection of Anderson Drive and Western Avenue, Tarro, and found a silver Toyota 4WD had crashed into three parked vehicles.
Officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District attended and located the driver of the 4WD, a 48-year-old man. He was subjected to a roadside breath test, allegedly returning a positive result.
The driver was arrested and taken to Maitland Police Station where he underwent a secondary breath analysis, which allegedly returned a positive reading of 0.317.
His driver’s licence was immediately suspended and confiscated, and he was issued a Court Attendance Notice for drive with high-range prescribed concentration of alcohol.
The Tomago man was given conditional bail to appear before Maitland Local Court on Wednesday 2 February 2022.

​The revitalisation of National Park’s popular sporting precincts is set to continue with a $627,000 overhaul of Newcastle’s premier netball facility.

Work began this week to upgrade the 30 competition netball courts at National Park as part of a project being funded by Newcastle Netball Association and delivered with support from City of Newcastle.
Designed to provide safer, high performance court surfaces for thousands of local players ahead of the new season, the project will include court surface grinding, crack repairs, asphalt works, and installation of the heavy-duty Netball NSW endorsed Plexipave surface followed by new line marking and court numbering.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the netball courts are an important part of the National Park sporting precinct, offering recreational opportunities for competition and social netballers and for community members.
“As one of our largest and oldest sportsgrounds and open space reserves, National Park plays an important role in the livability of our city,” Cr Nelmes said.
Councillor Peta Winney-Baartz said that City of Newcastle is committed to protecting and enhancing the vital greenspace and active recreation areas, investing millions of dollars into a range of projects currently underway while also planning for its future through the development of the National Park Plan of Management.
“Projects such as the upgrade of the netball courts by Newcastle Netball Association demonstrate the passion and commitment local sporting groups and community members also feel for National Park,” Cr Winney-Baartz said.
“I commend them for moving ahead with this important upgrade, which will provide safe, activated and enhanced recreation spaces for the community, including thousands of registered netball players who take part in Saturday morning, twilight and representative competitions each year.”
Due to the complexity of the project, the netball court precinct will be closed during the construction period, which is expected to be finished, weather depending, by March 2022 ahead of the netball season.
Newcastle Netball Association President Cheryl Hernando said the upgrade would provide players with important safety improvements and a better competition surface.
“Over 4,000 players utilise these courts throughout the year and the enhanced safety measures this revitalisation provides will be gladly welcomed,” she said.
“The new acrylic court surface will deliver a range of benefits for players including better traction underfoot further cementing National Park as the premier netball facility in Newcastle.”
National Park covers more than 20 hectares and is home to a range of community facilities including sportsgrounds, netball and basketball courts, a croquet club and an athletics track.

Strike Force Backhouse detectives have charged a third man following investigations into the fatal shooting of a woman in Stockton earlier this year.
Just after 8pm on Wednesday 9 June 2021, emergency services were called to a home on Queen Street, Stockton, following reports of a shooting.
A 61-year-old woman answered her front door before being shot. She died at the scene and was later identified as Stacey Klimovitch.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District established Strike Force Backhouse to investigate the circumstances surrounding Stacey’s murder.
So far during the investigation, two men – aged 29 and 46 – have been charged over their alleged involvement in the shooting murder and remain before the courts.
Following further inquiries, investigators attended a correctional facility in Silverwater yesterday (Wednesday 15 December 2021), and spoke with a 64-year-old inmate.
He was subsequently charged with murder and accessory after the fact to murder.
The man is due to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Monday (20 December 2021).
Investigations remain ongoing.

A second man has been fined over an alleged self-isolation direction breach in the state’s Hunter region.
On Tuesday (14 December 2021), officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District received information from NSW Health in relation to a 20-year-old man who had been directed to self-isolate at a Rutherford property from Wednesday 8 December 2021, as he was a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case.
It’s understood the man subsequently attended a licensed premises on Wharf Road later that evening.
He has since returned a positive test to COVID-19 and is currently self-isolating.
Police spoke with the man today (Thursday 16 December 2021), before he was issued a Penalty Infringement Notice (PIN) for $5000 for the offence of Fail to Comply with Notice Direction s 7/8/9 – COVID-19.

A teenage boy missing from the Hunter has been located safe and well.
The 16-year-old was last seen leaving his home in East Maitland yesterday (Tuesday 14 December 2021).
When the boy did not return home, officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District were alerted and began an investigation.
Following inquiries and multiple calls from members of the public to Crime Stoppers, about 9.45pm today (Wednesday 15 December 2021), the boy was located safe and well at Broadmeadow Railway Station.
Police would like to thank the public and media for their assistance.

Two men and a woman have been charged with almost 250 drug-related offences following extensive investigations into the alleged supply of prohibited drugs in the Lake Macquarie region.
In September this year, Strike Force Coifs was established by Lake Macquarie Police District detectives to investigate the ongoing supply of prohibited drugs in the Windale area.
Following investigations, about 10.20am yesterday (Wednesday 15 December 2021), search warrants were executed by officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District at two homes on Willandra Crescent and Lachlan Street, Windale.
A number of items were located during the search warrants, including methamphetamine, cash and
electronic stun devices. All items have been seized for forensic examination.
Two men and a woman were arrested and taken to Belmont Police Station.
A 59-year-old man and a 48-year-old woman were each charged with 49 offences including supply prohibited drug large commercial quantity, ongoing supply of prohibited drug and deal with the proceeds of crime.
A 63-year-old man was charged with 156 offences including supply prohibited drug large commercial quantity, ongoing supply of prohibited drug, possess or use a prohibited weapon, and deal with the proceeds of crime.
All three were refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Thursday 16 December 2021).
Investigations under Strike Force Coifs continue.

Homicide Squad detectives have charged a fourth person as investigations continue into the fatal shooting of a man at Newcastle earlier this year.
About 12.45pm on Thursday 22 July 2021, emergency services were called to a unit at Darby Street, Cooks Hill, following reports of shots fired.
Upon arrival, police located a 40-year-old man inside the unit with a gunshot wound to the chest.
Despite the efforts of emergency services, he died at the scene.
The man has been formally identified as Wesley ‘Wes’ Prentice from Rutherford.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District commenced inquiries, before detectives from the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad took carriage of the investigation under Strike Force Hibbard.
So far during the investigation, strike force detectives have charged three people – two men and a woman – over their alleged roles in the incident. They remain before the courts.
Following further investigations, police stopped and arrested a 35-year-old woman at Maude Street, Belmont, about 9.15am yesterday (Tuesday 14 December 2021).
She was taken to Belmont Police Station and charged with accessory after the fact to murder.
The Charlestown woman was refused bail and is due to appear at Belmont Local Court via AVL today (Wednesday 15 December 2021).
Inquiries under Strike Force Hibbard are continuing.

A man has died after he was pulled from the water near Newcastle this afternoon.
About 2.30pm (Tuesday 14 December 2021), emergency services were called to Burwood Beach, Merewether, following reports a man and woman were in trouble in the water.
The 25-year-old woman made it to shore uninjured.
The 25-year-old man was sighted by a paraglider who landed and assisted the man to a rock ledge.
CPR was commenced on the swimmer prior to the arrival of emergency services. Despite their efforts, he died at the scene.
The paraglider sustained a serious injury to his knee.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District attended and will prepare a report for the information of the Coroner.
Police were assisted by members of the public and Surf Lifesaving NSW during the incident.