A man and woman will face court later this month after allegedly committing domestic violence offences against an elderly man.

On Tuesday 2 December 2014, police and medical professionals from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command attended a home on George Street in response to a report made to the Elder Abuse Hotline.

An 80-year-old man was medically assessed and found to be underweight and undernourished.

He had not received treatment for medical conditions including diabetes and prostate cancer since January 2014.

Police and medical professionals organised respite care for the man and commenced an investigation.

Following inquiries, on Wednesday 4 March 2015, police arrested and charged a 46-year-old man and 49-year-old woman in Holmesville.

Both were charged with domestic violence related offences of intimidation and failing to supply necessities of life causing injury to health, and given bail to appear at Toronto Local Court on Wednesday 25 March 2015.

The elderly man is now caring for himself with the assistance of aged care services.

Police have charged a man after a Crime Stoppers tip-off lead to police discovering cannabis in Belmont this morning.

About 12pm today (Thursday 5 March 2015), police from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command attended a home on Stanley Street as a result of information received from a Crime Stoppers report.

Upon their arrival, officers detected a strong smell of cannabis.

Police spoke with the 24-year-old male occupant before searching the premises and yard.

Inside the home, police seized a number of pieces of dried cannabis, eight plants in a hydroponic set-up, and 16 cannabis plants in the rear yard.

A 24-year-old man was arrested and taken to Charlestown Police Station, where he was charged with cultivating a prohibited plant and possessing a prohibited plant.

He was granted conditional bail to appear at Belmont Local Court on Wednesday 25 March 2015.

Police from the Newcastle City Local Area Command are appealing for information after a girl was approached by a man in Jesmond yesterday (Tuesday 3 March 2015).

About 5pm yesterday, a 16-year-old girl was sitting on the concrete outside a college on Janet Street.

A 4WD stopped near the girl and the driver offered the teenager a lift. The girl spoke to the man and he drove off.

The girl told her father when he picked her up a short time later. They reported the incident to the police.

Police are hoping to speak with a man who may be able to assist with inquiries. He is described as being aged in his mid 30s, with a dark complexion and brown hair.

The 4WD is described as being a newer model, gold coloured with a partial number plate AO-97.

Police are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the incident, to contact Newcastle City police on (02) 4926 6599 or via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Meanwhile, the incident has again prompted police to encourage parents to discuss the ‘Safe People, Safe Places’ messages with their children, including;
– Make sure your parents or another adult you know knows where you are at all times.
– Always walk straight home or to the place you are walking to. Walk near busier roads and streets, or use paths where there are lots of other people.
– Know where safe places are – a shop, service station, police station, library or school. If you are ever frightened, you should go to one of these places and ask them to call the police.
– Learn about safe adults you can look for and talk to if you need help – police officers, teachers at school, adults you know and trust.
– Don’t talk to people you don’t know and never get into a car with someone you don’t know. If a car stops on the side of the road and you don’t know the person inside, do not stop.
– If you are scared and can use a phone, call 000 and tell them you are scared.
– If someone tries to grab you, yell out, ‘Go away, I don’t know you’. This lets other people know you have been approached by someone you don’t know.

A man is in a critical condition following a crash at Raymond Terrace overnight.

It was about midnight that emergency services were called to Parkway Avenue, where a white Toyota Camry had crashed into a pole.

There were four people in the car: a 25-year-old man, the driver; a 53-year-old man in the front passenger seat; and in the back seat, a 14-year-old boy and 24-year-old woman.

All sustained injuries in the crash; they are receiving treatment at John Hunter Hospital.

The most seriously injured is the 53-year-old man. He is reported to be in a critical condition.

While in hospital, the driver will undergo mandatory blood and urine testing.

Specialist police from the Crash Investigation Unit are examining the circumstances surrounding the crash.