Four men have now been charged following an alleged home invasion and abduction of two young children at Muswellbrook last month.
Police were called to a house on Richmond Street about 1.15am on Saturday 6 June after reports of an aggravated break-in. Officers were told a group of men forced entry to the property, and when a male occupant confronted them, he was allegedly punched and kicked to the head and body and struck with a bottle. Two children from the house, aged seven and four, were allegedly taken during the incident, before being located a short distance away.
A 36-year-old man was arrested after a foot pursuit and charged with special aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence – wounding. He was refused bail and is due to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday 5 August.
The injured man was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to Muswellbrook Hospital for a suspected facial fracture and concussion.
Detectives from Hunter Valley Police District established Strike Force Tope to investigate the incident further. On Friday, a 33-year-old man was arrested at Mount Street, Scone, and charged with special aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence – wounding, and take/detain child with intent to remove from parental control – domestic violence related.
Later that day, two more men, aged 23 and 27, were arrested at Muswellbrook Police Station. The 23-year-old was charged with the same two offences, while the 27-year-old faced an additional charge of contravening a prohibition or restriction in an apprehended violence order.
Investigations under Strike Force Tope are continuing.
