A man will appear in court today after being charged with firearm and illicit drug offences, following a vehicle stop in the Lake Macquarie Local Area Command yesterday.

About 10pm (Thursday 4 August 2016), police were patrolling the Charlestown area when they stopped a silver Mitsubishi Lancer on the Newcastle Inner City Bypass at Mount Hutton.

Police will allege the male driver provided a false name, and a subsequent search of the man and the vehicle resulted in cannabis and a replica pistol being located.

The 29-year-old was arrested and taken to Belmont Police Station, where he was charged with breach of bail, possess prohibited drug, possess unregistered unauthorised firearm in public place, and not keep firearm safely – prohibited firearm.

The man was refused bail, to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Friday 5 August 2016).