NSW police charge man after arson attacks at Wallsend

A man has been charged after several alleged arson attacks at a Wallsend home earlier this year.

Detectives attached to Newcastle City Police District commenced an investigation in relation to three separate arson incidents at a home on Metcalfe Street, Wallsend, on Wednesday 24 June, Saturday 18 and Thursday 30 July 2020.

During these incidents, a house, carport and vehicle were damaged.

An elderly woman was inside the home at the time of all three incidents, but she was uninjured.

Following a public appeal for information and ongoing inquiries, officers arrested a 37-year-old man on Harriet Street, Waratah, and took him to Waratah Police Station.

He was charged with three counts of destroy/damage property with intent to endanger life, two counts of destroy or damage property and one count of common assault.

Police will allege in court the man had an ongoing dispute with a former resident of the property and assaulted him at the home on Sunday 21 June.

He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Friday 21 August 2020).

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