Four men have been charged by NSW Police and will face court after an alleged home invasion and child abduction in the NSW Upper Hunter last month.
NSW Police said on June 6 a group of men allegedly forced entry to a home on Richmond Street, Muswellbrook, in the early hours of the morning.
Officers were told a male occupant confronted the men and was allegedly assaulted and hit over the head with a bottle.
It is alleged that two children, aged four and seven, were then taken from the home.
“A 36-year-old man was arrested by police a short time later, following a foot pursuit,” a NSW Police spokesperson said in a statement.
“The two children were also recovered by police a short distance away from the house.“
The injured occupant was treated at Muswellbrook hospital for facial injuries and a concussion.
The arrested man was charged at Muswellbrook Police station with special aggravated break and enter, and commit serious indictable offence — wounding.
He has been refused bail in court, and is due to reappear in August.
Strike force arrests
Officers with the Hunter Valley Police District formed Strike Force Tope to investigate the incident further.
On Friday, July 17, a 33-year-old man was arrested at Mount Street in Scone.
“He was taken to Muswellbrook Police Station 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 — DV,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
Later that afternoon, officers arrested two more men, aged 23 and 27, at Muswellbrook Police Station.
“The 23-year-old man was charged with two offences: special aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence — wounding, and take/detain child with intent to remove from parental control — DV.
“The 27-year-old man was charged with three offences: charged with special aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence — wounding, and take/detain child with intent to remove from parental control — DV and contravene prohibition/restriction in AVO (domestic).”
All three men will face the NSW bail court today, with inquiries continuing.
