Category: Newcastle News

A man has been charged with the newly legislated offences of sexual touching and sexual act following an alleged incident involving a teenaged girl at a football match on the Central Coast.
On Sunday 23 December 2018, police were approached during a football match at Central Coast Stadium, Gosford, by a 15-year-old girl, who reported a man in the crowd had made her feel uncomfortable.
Officers were told a man in the crowd had made inappropriate remarks and gestures toward the girl, before allegedly touching her in a sexual manner.
Local police obtained the man’s details before he was ejected from the stadium. The investigation was then referred to detectives from State Crime Command’s Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad.
Following inquiries, detectives arrested an 83-year-old man at Wyong Police Station just before 9am today (Thursday 3 January 2019).
He was charged with intentionally sexually touch child aged 10-16 and intentionally do sexual act with child aged 10-16.
The man was granted strict conditional bail, which includes him being prohibited from Central Coast Stadium, and is due to appear at Wyong Local Court on Wednesday 13 February 2019).
Inquiries are continuing.

A man has been charged with multiple offences, including murder, after being arrested on the state’s north last night.
Strike Force Lacrozia was formed by detectives from Lake Macquarie Police District, with assistance from the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad, to investigate the death of a 60-year-old man, after he was attacked in his Whitebridge home on Monday 17 December 2018.
Following inquiries, a 24-year-old man was arrested after crashing his motorcycle into an unmarked police vehicle on Ntaba Road, Jewells, about 11pm yesterday (Sunday 30 December 2019).
He was taken to John Hunter Hospital to be checked as a precaution, before being released and taken to Belmont Police Station.
He was charged with 25 offences, including murder, manslaughter, impersonating police, escape police custody, resist arrest, driving-related offences, and outstanding warrant-related offences.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Bail Court tomorrow (Tuesday 1 January 2019).
Two men, aged 19 and 22, have already been charged over the Whitebridge man’s murder and remain before the courts.

A man wanted on warrants for offences including murder and manslaughter, has been arrested in the Lake Macquarie area overnight.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District have made public appeals to locate the 24-year-old man as they continue to investigate the death of a 60-year-old man, who died after he was attacked in his Whitebridge home on Monday 17 December 2018.
Detectives from Lake Macquarie Police District, assisted by the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad, established Strike Force Lacrozia to investigate the circumstances surrounding the older man’s death.
Following inquiries, a 24-year-old man was arrested after crashing his motorcycle into an unmarked police vehicle on Ntaba Road, Jewells, about 11pm yesterday (Sunday 30 December 2019).
The man has been taken to hospital where he is being checked as a precaution, and remains there under police guard.
Two men, aged 19 and 22, have already been charged over the Whitebridge man’s murder and remain before the courts.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

Three Bandido outlaw motorcycle gang (OMCG) associates have been charged following an investigation into an alleged aggravated break and enter on Christmas Day at Abermain.
About 3pm (Tuesday 25 December 2018), three men entered a unit in Armidale Street where they confronted a 22-year-old man.
The men aged, 21, 22 and 23 became involved in an alleged physical confrontation with the other man, continuing to assault him as they dragged him to the front of the premises.
Several other people from the unit attempted to intervene. The three men left and officers from Hunter Valley Police District attended the scene.
Following further inquiries, the three men were arrested yesterday (Thursday 27 December 2018) by Cessnock Detectives, assisted by officers from State Crime Command’s Strike Force Raptor North.
They were each charged with aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence and affray.
The men were refused bail and appeared in Newcastle Local Court today (Friday 28 December 2018). They were granted conditional bail and are due to appear in Cessnock Local Court on 10 January 2019.

A second man has been charged with murder after the death of another man during a home invasion at Lake Macquarie last week.
Emergency services were called to the home on Lonus Avenue, Whitebridge, about 2.30am on Monday 17 December 2018, where they found a 60-year-old man with serious injuries.
The man was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics, before being taken to John Hunter Hospital. Despite the efforts of medical staff, the man died a short time later.
The man’s two brothers were home at the time but were not injured.
Local police established a crime scene at the home, which was examined by specialist forensic officers.
Detectives from Lake Macquarie Police District, assisted by the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad, established Strike Force Lacrozia to investigate the circumstances surrounding the man’s death.
A 19-year-old man was previously charged with murder. He remains before the courts.
Following further inquiries, a 23-year-old man was arrested at a home at Windale last Saturday (22 December 2018), before being taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment to a pre-existing injury.
The man was released from hospital earlier today (Tuesday 25 December 2018), and taken to Belmont Police Station.
He was charged with murder, steal from person, impersonate police officer and exercise powers/functions, and police pursuit – not stop – drive recklessly.
Police will allege in court that the man is one of three people – armed with baseball bats and knives – who broke into the Whitebridge home and attacked the 60-year-old man in his bedroom.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court tomorrow (Wednesday 26 December 2018).
Investigations are continuing, and police are still seeking another man in relation to the incident.

Investigators are appealing for public assistance following an aggravated break and enter near Maitland today.
About 5.10am (Saturday 22 December 2018), a man was working inside a licenced premises on West Street, Greta, about 20km north west of Maitland, when four males arrived at the location in a vehicle.
Police have been told three males forced entry, striking the man with a baseball bat before threatening him with a gun.
Several items were stolen including a mobile phone and laptop, before the group fled the scene.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District attended and established a crime scene.
The injured man was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics and taken to Maitland Hospital with non life-threatening injuries.
The males have been described as wearing jumpers, track pants and gloves with their faces covered.
It is believed they may have been driving a dark coloured dual cab utility.
Anyone with information about the incident who may be able to assist with inquiries is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

The City of Newcastle today unveiled a newly restored section of City Hall as part of the architectural jewel’s external restoration.
Hoarding was removed from the south-eastern vehicle ramp and facade along King Street, revealing a newly built driveway, and the footpath completely re-opened to pedestrians.
^{City Hall Project Manager Matthew Bennet and Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes at the newly-opened south ramp}
“We are painstakingly restoring this 1929 heritage building to endure as the Civic Precinct’s showpiece, and the latest section is a major milestone in the project,” Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
“This large-scale conservation work is ensuring City Hall stands strong and proud in a pivotal precinct that will quickly grow in stature as a cultural and hospitality hub following last week’s announcement of Newcastle’s first five-star hotel in the Roundhouse building.
“Kingsley Hotel’s future guests will behold the beauty of City Hall from the comfort of their accommodation and tell their friends and relatives about it when they return home.”

The highest quality self-colouring sandstone material has been used to replace ageing and damaged parts of the building, with the Sydney basin ‘Yellowblock’ sandstone excavated from a building site in George Street, Sydney.
The use of high-quality material will ensure the longevity of the building and help reduce future building maintenance.
While the south-eastern hoarding has come down, retractable bollards will remain at the base of the ramp to prevent vehicle access until the remaining work is completed on the southern façade.
Work to conserve the western and northern facade continues, with eastern construction compound still in place.
For more information on this project, visit the City Hall Restoration website.

The NSW Police Force is warning members of the community about an elaborate scam targeting retirees and other Australians looking to purchase recreational vehicles and vessels, and machinery.
Police from across NSW have received numerous reports in recent weeks relating to the resurfacing of a scam involving illegitimate sellers of motor homes, machinery, and boats.
Investigators have been told the scam begins with what appears to be a genuine seller of an item advertising through the classifieds. In many cases, the advertised sale price is below market value.
The advertisement will feature a mobile number, which will not be answered, instead responding via text message that they are unable to talk on the phone.
After asking if the buyer is interested in the item, the scammer may direct the conversation to email to conduct price negotiations.

Once a price is agreed, the scammer requests a considerable payment (up to 50%) upfront by electronic transfer, then provide instructions to contact a freight company to arrange delivery and make final payment.

It is understood that the freight company contact details provided by the scammer defer to another scammer, who takes a final payment before providing a fraudulent tracking number.

The goods are never delivered, and the money is not able to be recovered.

Inquiries have revealed the scam also involves identity takeovers, phishing, and mobile phone porting, which further attempt to disguise the identities of those involved.

Detectives from the Financial Crimes Squad have commenced an investigation and are urging the public to be vigilant when purchasing items through online or newspaper classifieds.
If you have been the victim of a scam, you can report it to local police or to ACCC Scamwatch at: https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam or by calling 1300 795 995.
Further, victims of identity theft can contact IDCARE for assistance to reduce the harm experienced from the compromise and misuse of identity information: https://www.idcare.org

Police have released images of two men they believe can assist with inquiries into the death of another man during a home invasion in Lake Macquarie earlier this week.
Emergency services were called to the home on Lonus Avenue, Whitebridge, about 2.30am on Monday (17 December 2018), and found a 60-year-old man with a serious injury to his arm.
The man was treated at the scene by Ambulance paramedics; however, he died at John Hunter Hospital a short time later.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District established a crime scene and commenced inquiries.
Police will allege in court that three people – with their faces covered and armed with baseball bats and knives – broke into the home and attacked the man in his bedroom.
The man’s two brothers were home at the time but were not injured.
As inquiries continue, police have released images of two men who they believe may be able to assist with inquiries.
One man is described as being of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander or Mediterranean/Middle Eastern appearance, aged in his mid-20s, about 165cm tall, with brown eyes. He is believed to have dark-coloured short/shaved hair, possibly with a long ponytail.
The second man is described as being of Caucasian appearance, also aged in his mid-20s, about 175cm tall, with a thin build, fair complexion and blond hair. He is believed to have tattoos on his chest, left forearm, right arm and left thigh.
As inquiries into the incident continue, anyone with information, is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers immediately.