Three men will face Court after being charged in relation to a break and enter and child abduction offences which is alleged to have occurred in Muswellbrook last month.
About 1.15am on Saturday 6 June 2026, officers from Hunter Valley Police District responded to reports of an aggravated break and enter at a house in Richmond Street, Muswellbrook.
Police were told a group of four men forced entry to the house and when a male occupant of the premises confronted the men, he was allegedly punched and kicked to the head and body and hit over the head with a bottle.
Police were told two children from the house aged 7 and 4 were also allegedly taken during the incident.
A 36-year-old man was arrested by police a short time later following a foot pursuit. The two children were also recovered by police a short distance away from the house.
The injured man was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance Paramedics and taken to Muswellbrook hospital for a suspected facial fracture and concussion.
The arrested man was taken to Muswellbrook Police Station where he was charged with special aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence – wounding.
He has subsequently been refused bail by the Court and will next appear before Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday 5 August 2026.
Detectives from Hunter Valley Police District established Strike Force Tope to further investigate the circumstances of the incident.
Following inquiries, about 10.00am today (Friday 17 July 2026), detectives arrested a 33-year-old man at Mount Street, 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.
About 3.00pm today, two men aged 23 and 27 were arrested 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 arrested today were refused bail to appear before Bail Division – Court 2 tomorrow (Saturday 18 July 2026).
Investigations under Strike Force Tope continue.
