About 7.55pm (Friday 2 January 2015), officers from New England Traffic and Highway Patrol were conducted RBT on the New England Highway in Maitland. A car allegedly drove away from the RBT site and a pursuit was initiated. The car stopped on Johnson Street, Telarah and driver, a 25-year-old woman from Beresfield was arrested. A two-year-old girl was found restrained in the rear of the car. The woman was charged with fail to stop at an RBT site, drive in a manner dangerous, police pursuit – Skye’s Law, drive unregistered vehicle, use vehicle with false/misleading number plates and not drive to conditions of P2 licence. The woman will appear at Maitland Local Court on a later date.

Police are appealing for public assistance after two men were robbed in separate incidents in Newcastle.

Just before 10pm on Friday (2 January 2015), a 21-year-old man was approached by three males while he was walking along Turton Road at Waratah.

The trio threatened the man and demanded money, before fleeing with cash.

In the second incident, about 7.45pm yesterday (Saturday 3 January 2015), a 35-year-old man was walking from Tuxford Park on King Street at Shortland, when a white hatchback stopped near him.

The four male occupants got out of the vehicle and approached the man, demanding his phone and wallet.

The group then assaulted the man before fleeing.

Police from Newcastle Local Area Command were alerted to both incidents and commenced inquiries.

The incidents may be linked and it’s believed the vehicle used in the second incident was a stolen 2013-model Toyota Corolla with NSW registration BX37GI.

Investigators are appealing for public assistance in an attempt to identify and locate those involved.

Three of the males are described as being of Caucasian appearance and aged in their mid to late teens.

The fourth is described as Aboriginal / Torres Strait Islander appearance and aged in his early 20s.