A man will face court tomorrow after being charged with alleged serious domestic and traffic related offences on the state’s Mid North Coast.
In March 2023, officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District commenced an investigation after a woman was allegedly assaulted by a man known to her at Upper Allyn.
When the 37-year-old man was unable to be located by officers, a warrant was issued for his arrest and police commenced inquiries into his whereabouts.
On Friday 2 June 2023, police were called to John Hunter Hospital after a woman had presented with serious injuries requiring surgery.
Further inquiries suggest the woman had allegedly been kidnapped by the man six weeks earlier and was held against her will.
About 5pm the next day (Saturday 3 June 2023), the man allegedly assaulted officers during an attempted arrest, before he fled the scene in a Jeep Cherokee towing a camper trailer.
Police attempted to stop the vehicle on Kendall Street in Bellbird; however, when the vehicle failed to stop as directed, a pursuit was initiated.
The pursuit continued through Kulnura, where the Jeep swerved to avoid road spikes and collided with a tree, causing the trailer to separate from the vehicle. The pursuit was terminated shortly after due to safety concerns.
Just before 5pm yesterday (Friday 23 June 2023), an off-duty officer observed the man travelling in an allegedly stolen Toyota Landcruiser on the New England Highway in East Maitland.
The man was followed to the carpark of Metford Railway Station where he was approached by police.
It will be alleged the man then rammed two police vehicles before rolling the Landcruiser. Two passengers in the vehicle suffered minor injuries.
The man was arrested and taken to Maitland Police Station, where he was assessed by paramedics and taken to hospital under police guard for assessment.
On his release from hospital, the man was returned to Maitland Police Station and charged with twenty-three offences including:
- Two counts of common assault (DV),
- Stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm (domestic),
- Take/detain person with intent to obtain advantage cause actual bodily harm (DV),
- Four counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm (DV),
- Reckless grievous bodily harm (DV),
- Two counts of use etc offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention,
- Two counts of hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty,
- Two counts of assault police officer in execution of duty without actual bodily harm,
- Police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously,
- Destroy or damage property,
- Drive motor vehicle during disqualification period,
- Two counts of dishonestly obtain property by deception,
- Aggravated B&E & commit serious indictable offence-armed,
- Take & drive conveyance w/o consent of owner, and
- Drive recklessly/furiously or speed manner dangerous.
The Maitland man was refused bail and is due to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Sunday 25 June 2023.
Two senior constables – both males – suffered minor injuries during the arrest.
Investigations are continuing.
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 information via NSW Police social media pages.
