Man charged following alleged property damage spree - Cessnock

Tuesday, 18 March 2025 10:10:25 AM

A man has been charged following an alleged property damage and reckless driving spree in the Hunter Valley last night.

About 10:30pm yesterday (Monday 17 March 2025), police received numerous reports of a white Subaru Forester being driven erratically and damaging property.

Following inquiries, police attached to Hunter Valley Police District established the vehicle had allegedly been driven into several structures at Cessnock:

• A steel fence at a public pool on Allandale Road,
• The gates and glass doors of a NSW Government agency on Darwin Street,
• The roller door of an apartment building on North Road,
• A parked and unoccupied vehicle in a carpark on Darwin Street, and
• The windows of a business on Darwin Street.

Police responded and attempted to stop the vehicle on Elizabeth Street, Cessnock.

When the driver allegedly failed to stop as directed, a pursuit was initiated.

The pursuit ended on Frame Drive, Sawyers Gully, where police arrested a 59-year-old man.

A subsequent search of the man allegedly revealed a small resealable bag containing a substance that will undergo forensic examination.

He was taken to Cessnock Hospital for mandatory testing before being taken to Cessnock Police Station.

There he was charged with seven counts of destroy or damage property, drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous, and police pursuit - not stop - drive recklessly.

He was refused bail to appear before Cessnock Local Court today (Tuesday 18 March 2025).

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