Two men have been arrested and charged following separate investigations by the Sex Crimes Squad’s Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU), with assistance from Newcastle City and Lake Macquarie Local Area Commands.

In May of this year (2015), specialist detectives from the CEIU commenced an investigation into the online behaviour of a man who had allegedly been using social media applications to contact a teenage boy.

Using the assumed online identities of teenage boys, CEIU detectives commenced online conversations with the man.

Police will allege in court that during these conversations the man made a number of sexually explicit comments and requests. He also transmitted a number of pornographic images.

Yesterday (Friday 27 November 2015), CEIU detectives arrested a 30-year-old man at a home in Charlestown. A search warrant was also executed at the man’s house, with officers seizing a number of electronic items.

The man was taken to Belmont Police Station, where he was charged with using a carriage service to groom a person under 16 years of age and using a carriage service for child pornography. He was refused bail to appear at Belmont Local Court today (Saturday 28 November 2015).

Yesterday’s arrest followed the arrest of a Mayfield West man on Thursday (26 November 2015).

In June (2015), CEIU detectives were contacted by local police in Port Stephens who were concerned about the online behaviour of a man who appeared to be from the Newcastle area.

Employing the assumed online identity of a young teenage girl, CEIU detectives engaged the man in online conversations.

Throughout the conversations, which took place over a number of months, the man allegedly made numerous inappropriate and sexually explicit comments and requests.

Following their inquiries, CEIU detectives arrested a 36-year-old man at a home in Mayfield West on Thursday (26 November 2015).

A search warrant was executed at the property, and a number of electronic items were seized, before the man was taken to Waratah Police Station where he was charged with:

– Using a carriage service to procure persons under 16 years of age; and,

– Using a carriage service to transmit an indecent communication to person under 16 years of age.

Granted conditional bail, he is scheduled to appear before Newcastle Local Court on 17 December 2015.

A man is due to appear in court charged with property offences in the Newcastle City Local Area Command.

About 8am today (Tuesday 24 November 2015), police attended Gregson Avenue, Mayfield West, following reports of an armed man inside a home.

Officers attached to Newcastle City Local Area Command attended and conducted a canvas of the local area, identifying a number of other offences in Cross Street and Buruda Street.

The occupant of the home, a 77-year-old man, was not injured.

Police continued to patrol the area and located a 35-year-old man in Waratah Street.

He was arrested and taken to Waratah Police Station where he was charged with 10 offences including aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence, common assault, larceny (x3) and resist officer in execution of duty (x2).

He was bail refused and will appear in Newcastle Local Court tomorrow (Wednesday 25 November 2015).

Police are investigating the death of a woman, who was the passenger, in a single-vehicle crash in the state’s Hunter Region today.

About 1.45am (Tuesday 24 November 2015) emergency services were called to Wine Country Drive, North Rothbury, following reports of a vehicle that had crashed into a telegraph pole.

On arrival, emergency services assisted an 83-year-old female passenger; however she died at the scene.

A 62-year-old male driver suffered serious injuries. He remains at John Hunter Hospital.

A crime scene has been established while a full investigation will be conducted by officers from Hunter Valley Local Area Command and Crash Investigation Unit.

A report will be prepared for the Coroner.

Police have appealed for information from the community after a pizza store was held up at Newcastle West overnight.

Shortly before 11pm yesterday (Wednesday 18 November 2015), a man entered the pizza store on Steel Street and asked to purchase a dink.

As one of the two employees turned to serve him the man produced a shortened firearm, threatened the two male employees and demanded cash.

One employee handed over a quantity of cash and the offender fled on foot. He was last seen in Steel Street heading towards Hunter Street.

The man may have left in an older model white van.

No one was injured during the robbery.

Police from Newcastle City Local Area Command were called and searched the area but could not locate the man or the vehicle.

The man has been described to police as being of Caucasian appearance, between 35 and 40 years old with a medium build.

At the time of the robbery the man was wearing a red and white baseball cap, navy t-shirt, grey shorts and no shoes.

The man had a green ‘enviro’ bag in which the firearm was secreted and covered it with a red shirt.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Newcastle City Police or Crime Stoppers.

Detectives investigating the 2007 death of a man are renewing their appeal for public assistance as their inquiries continue to find those responsible for his death.

About 4.30pm on Monday 12 March 2007, 87-year-old Frank Newbery was found slumped behind the counter of his take away and grocery store on Union Street, Cooks Hill, suffering severe head injuries.

He died shortly after arriving at hospital.

Mr Newbery had been the owner of the business – ‘Frank’s Ham & Beef’ – for more than 50 years.

Strike Force Rynan was established to investigate the matter; however despite an extensive investigation that followed many different lines of inquiry, those responsible were not identified.

An inquest was held into the death in August 2012, where the Deputy State Coroner returned an open finding. The inquest found that Mr Newbery had died after being attacked in his store, but failed to identify any suspects.

Newcastle detectives are continuing with their inquiries into the death and are renewing their public appeal for assistance.

While they believe that ‘robbery gone wrong’ has always appeared to be the most likely scenario, they will consider and explore all possibilities; including that the incident could have been a deliberate attack upon Mr Newbery.

Police wish to remind the public the New South Wales Government issued a $100,000 reward in October 2007 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

Any information can be given to Crime Stoppers or via Newcastle City Police Station directly on (02) 4929 0999.

Police Transport Command has charged a man over an alleged indecent assault on a bus in the Hunter Region earlier this month.

About 8.20am on Thursday 5 November 2015, a 17-year-old girl was travelling on a bus between Speers Point and Hamilton, when a man, who boarded the bus shortly before, moved to sit next to her.

The man then allegedly indecently assaulted the girl before she stood up and moved seats.

When the man exited the bus at Broadmeadow, a witness contacted police.

Officers attached to Police Transport Command attended and commenced an investigation.

As a result of their inquiries, a 37-year-old Cardiff man was arrested at Newcastle Police Station last Friday (13 November 2015) and charged with two counts each of indecent assault and common assault.

He has been granted strict conditional bail and is due to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 26 November 2015.

Two men have been charged over an alleged alcohol-related assault and offensive behaviour in Newcastle last night.

About 7.30pm (Sunday 15 November 2015), police from Newcastle City Local Area Command were called to a licensed premises on Kendrick Street, The Junction, following reports a security officer had been assaulted.

Police were told the men were asked to leave the licensed premises due to their level of intoxication, to which they refused.

The pair was escorted from the hotel by security and as they left, it is alleged they assaulted a security guard.

After leaving the location, the pair walked down Glebe Road and one of the men allegedly exposed himself to a group of people who were dining at a nearby restaurant.

On arrival, officers located two men allegedly yelling and swearing, as they attempted to entice passersby to fight.

The men – aged 21 and 29 – allegedly challenged police but were arrested without incident and taken to Newcastle Police Station.

The 21-year-old Queensland man was charged with fail to quit, assault, wilful and obscene exposure in/near public place, and offensive behaviour.

The 29-year-old Merewether man was charged with assault and offensive behaviour.

Both men have been granted strict conditional bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 10 December 2015.

Inquiries are continuing.

Newcastle City Local Area Commander, Superintendent John Gralton, said local police would continue the approach of ‘consequence policing’ to alcohol-related violence and anti-social behaviour.

“We have zero tolerance policy to alcohol-fuelled assaults in Newcastle and it’s a simple concept – if you play up, you’re going to be locked up,” Supt Gralton said.

“All officers are tasked to ensure the safety of our community and there are consequences for people who are behaving badly.

“Particularly as we approach the busy summer season, our message is clear: It is not okay to come into town, drink to excess and punch on. If you misbehave in Newcastle, be prepared to face the consequences,” Supt Gralton said.