Monthly Archives: March 2016

Police appeal following assault – Maitland

Police are appealing for information after a woman was assaulted in Bolwarra Heights this morning.

Just after 6am today (Thursday 31 March 2016), a 63-year-old woman was assaulted in a home at Margot Close, Bolwarra Heights, near Maitland.

Police have been told a 63-year-old man known to the woman, went to the home and allegedly assaulted her as she got out of a car in the driveway, causing her to fall to the ground.

The man left the address and police were contacted.

Officers from Central Hunter Local Area Command attended and commenced inquiries.

The woman was treated by NSW Ambulance Paramedics at the scene. She was taken to Maitland Hospital for treatment. She remains there in a stable condition.

Police would like to speak to the 63-year-old man who may be able to assist them with their investigation.

It is believed the man may be travelling in 2003 Ford Courier table top utility NSW registration YNB213 with a blue and white logo.

Motorcyclist airlifted to hospital as Operation Tortoise concluded in Yass

A 28-year-old male motorcyclist from Parramatta was airlifted to Canberra Hospital after hitting a guardrail on the Hume Highway on Tuesday morning.

The single motorbike accident occurred at 5.15am on Tuesday in the northbound lane of the highway near Oolong, just hours after Operation Tortoise (the state’s Easter road safety campaign) had concluded. It was the only serious accident in the local area over the holiday period.

Operation Tortoise, which commenced at one minute past midnight on Thursday and ended at 11.59pm on Monday, targeted drink and drug driving, speeding, fatigue, seatbelt use, mobile-phone use and other forms of dangerous driving.

A spokesperson from Goulburn Police said officers were pleased overall with how motorists behaved on the roads in the region over the Easter long weekend.

More than 3000 random breath tests were conducted in Yass with two local men charged with drink driving. Officers from Yass Highway Patrol also issued just over 100 tickets for speeding and four fines for seatbelt related offences.

Police stopped a 36-year-old male provisional P1 driver doing 145km/h on the Hume Highway near Gunning on Easter Sunday.

In NSW, provisional P1 drivers have a 90km/h limit attached to their licence. The 36-year-old had his licence suspended on the spot and his number plates were also suspended, which means his car will be unregistered for three months. He was also handed a hefty fine for more than $2000.

Two more P1 drivers – a 21-year-old male and 25 year-old male, both from Sydney – were detected driving more than 30km/h over their speed limits on the Hume Highway during the operation. A provisional P2 driver from Sydney was also clocked travelling 134km/h on the Hume Highway.

In Yass, officers charged two men with drink driving. A 24-year-old local man was stopped by police in town at 7.30pm on Thursday. He blew 0.050 and was charged with low-range drink driving. A 74-year-old Yass man was also charged with mid-range drink driving after registering a blood alcohol reading of 0.101 at 5.30pm on Saturday. Both men had their licences suspended and will face court in April.

Police appeal after child approached near Lake Macquarie

Police are appealing for information after a child was approached by a man in a vehicle near Lake Macquarie yesterday afternoon.

About 3.20pm (Tuesday 29 March 2016), a 14-year-old boy caught his regular school bus to Cams Wharf Road, Cams Wharf, where he began walking home via Rafferty Drive.

While walking along the roadway, a white Toyota Hilux dual cab approached him and pulled over beside him.

The vehicle also had a fibreglass canopy over the tray with a small logo printed on the side.

Police have been told the male driver attempted to speak with the boy, before he ran toward a nearby bush track away from the road.

When he arrived home, he told his mother what happened and she contacted police.

Officers from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command launched an investigation into the incident and would now like to speak to a man who may be able to assist with their inquiries.

The man is described as being of Caucasian appearance, aged in his 40s, with shoulder-length brown scruffy hair and a moustache. He was last seen wearing a grey t-shirt with writing across the front.

Anyone who knows the man’s identity, or has any information that could assist investigators, is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au/

 

Motorcyclist airlifted to Canberra Hospital after crash on Hume Highway

A 28-year-old man has been airlifted to Canberra Hospital in a serious condition after he came off his motorcycle east of Yass on Tuesday morning.

One northbound lane on the Hume Highway at Jerrawa was closed after the crash which occurred at 5.40am, but has since reopened.

It is understood the man crashed down an embankment near Hillgrove Road.

The Snowy Hydro SouthCare helicopter transported the man in a stable but serious condition to Canberra hospital.

A spokeswoman for NSW Ambulance said the man suffered a suspected fractured arm.

Three arrested as police seize drugs, cash, replica gun – Gateshead

Three people have been arrested after police seized drugs, cash, and a replica pistol following the execution of a search warrant at a home in the Lake Macquarie area.

Over the past few weeks, investigators from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command Property Crime Team have been investigating a number of steal from motor vehicle offences and subsequent ‘tap and go’ frauds.

As a result of their inquiries, just before 2pm today (Tuesday 29 March 2016), police observed a vehicle on Willow Road, Gateshead, where they arrested two women – aged 35 and 33.

Following their arrest, a search warrant was executed at a home on Willow Road, Gateshead – where they seized a replica pistol.

At the property, police arrested a 35-year-old man for unrelated offences. During a subsequent search of the man, police allegedly found and seized cash, and two bags of a crystal substance believed to be methamphetamine.

All three were taken to Belmont Police Station.

The man was charged with supply prohibited drug and possess firearm. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Belmont Local Court on Wednesday 20 April 2016.

The older woman was charged with 15 counts of fraud and two counts of having goods in custody suspected of being stolen.

She was refused bail to appear before Belmont Local Court tomorrow (Wednesday 30 March 2016).

The younger woman was charged with two counts of fraud and granted conditional bail, to appear before Belmont Local Court on Wednesday 13 April 2016.

Meanwhile, inquiries continue and further charges are likely.

COLD CHISEL TO RECEIVE 2016 TED ALBERT AWARD

The APRA AMCOS Board of Writer and Publisher Directors have announced that legendary songwriters and musicians, Cold Chisel, are the recipients of the 2016 Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music. The prestigious award will be presented to Cold Chisel at the 2016 APRA Music Awards on Tuesday 5 April at Carriageworks in Sydney.

With a history that spans 40 years, a reputation forged through blistering live shows and a catalogue of much loved songs and albums, Cold Chisel – Jimmy Barnes, Ian Moss, Don Walker, Phil Small and Steve Prestwich – are part of the fabric of the nation’s psyche. Their story is colourful, volatile and proud and their music continues to be ingrained in the hearts of generations of Australians.

The band has sold almost seven million albums across bona fide Australian classics like East, Breakfast at Sweethearts and Circus Animals, while songs like Cheap Wine, Choir Girl, When the War Is Over, Flame Trees, Bow River, Saturday Night, Khe Sanh and 2015’s Lost remain the staple of radio playlists, pubs, jukeboxes, concert halls and karaoke bars across every part of the country.

Australia’s love of Cold Chisel has only grown over the years. The band’s 2011 Light The Nitro tour was the biggest-ever by an Australian-based band, with over 300,000 tickets sold, and their 2015 One Night Stand tour included a number of firsts for the band, including being the first-ever Australian artist to headline the iconic Hanging Rock to a sold out audience of 18,000. Meanwhile, the band’s 2012 album No Plans was certified gold and received 5 ARIA Award nominations while last year’s album The Perfect Crime was #1 on the ARIA Australian Artists Album chart and is almost platinum. The Perfect Crime was universally hailed by critics, with many calling it as amongst the best of Cold Chisel’s career.

Previous recipients of the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music include Paul Kelly, Jimmy Little, Slim Dusty, The Seekers and last year’s recipient, Fifa Riccobono.

Men charged with assault police and acts of indecency – Port Macquarie

Two men have been charged after allegedly damaging property, assaulting a police officer, and offensive behaviour while naked, in Port Macquarie yesterday.

About 6.10am (Sunday 27 March 2016), officers attached to Mid North Coast Local Area Command received several reports of two men allegedly causing damage to property in the Port Macquarie CBD.

Officers attended and arrested one of the men, aged 20; however, the second man allegedly fled the scene.

The man in custody allegedly pushed a police officer to the ground and attempted to flee the scene, before he was arrested a short distance away.

Further inquiries led police to arrest the second man, aged 19, at a motel on Clarence Street, and two mobile phones were seized.

Both men were taken to Port Macquarie Police Station.

It will be alleged both men maliciously damaged a number of vehicles and boom gates at a caravan park on Munster Street, approached a number of women while naked, and the younger man committed a number of acts on various objects on Clarence Street, while naked.

The older man has been charged with assault police, escape custody, goods in custody, and offensive language.

The younger man has been charged with three counts of act of indecency, three counts of malicious damage, and goods in custody.

Both men were granted conditional bail, to appear at Port Macquarie Local Court on Wednesday 13 April 2016.

The estimated cost of the damage to the property is up to $30,000.

Man dies after altercation – Hamilton

A man has died after an altercation during a break-in at a home in Newcastle yesterday.

About 3.30am (Saturday 26 March 2016), police were called to Cleary Street, Hamilton, following reports of three men fighting.

Police were told a 34-year-old man had broken into a home before an altercation broke out and he was detained by two men, aged 33 and 32.

Shortly after, officers from Newcastle City Local Area Command attended, the 34-year-old man lost consciousness.

He was taken by Ambulance Paramedics to John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition.

He died about 11.30am today (Sunday 27 March 2016), after his life support was switched off.
Detectives will prepare a report for the information of the Coroner.
A 33-year-old man has previously been charged with recklessly inflict grievous bodily harm.

Inquiries are continuing.

Man charged over cannabis crop – Gundagai

A man has been charged after a cannabis crop was located in Gundagai today.

About 4pm today (Saturday 26 March 2016), police from Cootamundra Local Area Command had cause to attend an address on Brungle Road, Gundagai.

Inside the address they allegedly located a large cannabis crop, as well as over 500 grams of cannabis oil, a drug utensil, and an amount of unsecured ammunition.

A 58-year-old man at the address was issued with a Future Court Attendance Notice for the offence of cultivate prohibited plant, possess prohibited drug, and not keep ammunition safe.

He is expected to appear at Gundagai Local Court on 13 May 2015.

Man charged after altercation – Hamilton

A man has been charged after an incident in Newcastle which has left another man in a critical condition in hospital.

About 3.30am today (Saturday 26 March 2016), police were called to attend a street in Hamilton following reports of three males fighting.

Officers from Newcastle City Local Area Command attended and located a 34-year-old man being detained by two men.

The 34-year-old was found to be unresponsive. Ambulance Paramedics conveyed him to John Hunter Hospital where he is in a critical condition.

One of the men who were detaining him, aged 33, was taken to John Hunter Hospital where he was treated for facial injuries.

He was then taken to Newcastle Police Station where he was charged with recklessly inflict grievous bodily harm.

He was granted conditional bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court on 21 April 2016.

The other man, aged 32, who was assisting in detaining the 34-year-old, has not been charged.

Investigations suggest the 34-year-old man had committed a break, enter and steal offence at the 33-year-old man’s home prior to the altercation.