Man refused bail on traffic, drugs and firearm offences following Wickham crash

By Matthew Kelly

Updated January 15 2025 - 1:03pm, first published 1:00pm

📷 The overturned police car in Albert St, Wickham. Picture by Marina Neil.

A 26-year-old man has been refused bail on traffic, drug and firearm charges following a pursuit and crash outside the Wickham Park Hotel on Tuesday evening.

Aaron James Forster of Woodberry did not enter pleas to 11 offences during a brief appearance in Newcastle Local Court.

The pursuit began shortly after 6pm on Tuesday when police attempted to stop a Ford Everest on Acacia Avenue, Waratah, which had been reported stolen from a Cooks Hill address earlier in the day.

A pursuit was initiated when the vehicle failed to stop.

The pursuit continued throughout several suburbs before allegedly driving through a red traffic light at the intersection of Fern Street and Maitland Road, Wickham, colliding with a motorcycle.

The motorcycle rider - a 27-year-old man - suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene by paramedics.

The vehicle allegedly continued to Albert Street where it collided with a police vehicle, causing the police vehicle to roll onto its side.

No police officers were injured.

The stolen vehicle was immobilised as a result of the crash and the driver and passenger ran from the car.

Following a foot pursuit, police arrested Forster, who police allege was a passenger in the vehicle.

Police allege Forster discarded a backpack shortly before his arrest. It allegedly contained a shortened firearm, $2175 cash, and amounts of methamphetamine and cannabis.

📷 Police inspect the damaged motorbike. Picture by Marina Neil.

He was taken to Newcastle Police Station where he was charged with 1:

• Possess shortened firearm without authority,
• Possess loaded firearm public place,
• Not keep firearm safely,
• Use, supply, acquire, possess stolen firearm or part,
• Possess unauthorised firearm,
• Goods in personal custody suspected being stolen,
• Be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner,
• Hinder or rest police in the execution of duty, and
• Three counts of possessing a prohibited drug.

Forster will reappear in Newcastle Court on January 29.

Investigations are continuing to locate the driver.