Charges laid as inquiries continue in Muswellbrook kidnapping - SF Sanderston
Thursday, 08 May 2025 11:35:04 AM
Two men have been charged as inquiries continue into an alleged kidnapping at Muswellbrook earlier this year.
Shortly before 4am on Friday 21 March 2025, a 25-year-old man was allegedly forced to stop his vehicle on the New England Highway near Muswellbrook by a group of five males in a silver Subaru Impreza.
The man was allegedly removed from his vehicle before he was assaulted and forced into the Subaru, and driven to Tindale Street, Muswellbrook.
Police believe the Subaru remained on Tindale Street for some time, before travelling to the Denman or surrounding rural area.
A short time later, a 35-year-old man was stopped in his vehicle outside the same address in Tindale Street, Muswellbrook, when a Holden Commodore utility crashed into the front of his vehicle.
The 35-year-old man was allegedly approached and threatened by an occupant of the ute, before he drove away without injury. Police will allege that the incidents are linked.
Police later found the 25-year-old man at Muswellbrook railway station with facial injuries. He was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to John Hunter Hospital. He has since been released.
Detectives from Hunter Valley Police District were notified and established Strike Force Sanderston to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incidents.
Following extensive inquiries and a public appeal for information, officers executed search warrants at two homes in Scone and Muswellbrook yesterday (Wednesday 7 May 2025).
During the searches, police allegedly located a replica firearm, electronics, illegal tobacco products, prohibited drugs, and a range of property believed to be stolen.
Two men – aged 34 and 21 – were subsequently arrested and taken to Muswellbrook Police Station.
The older man was charged with nine offences:
- Take person in company with intent to commit serious indictable
- Supply prohibited drug (greater than indictable less than commercial quantity)
- Goods in personal custody suspected being stolen (not m/v)
- Goods suspected stolen in/on premises (m/v)
- Contravene prohibition/restriction in AVO (Domestic)
- Dispose property-theft=serious indictable offence > $5000
- Predatory driving (two counts), and
- Possess prohibited drug.
The younger man was charged with take person in company with intent to commit serious indictable, and use etc offensive weapon with intent to commit indictable offence.
Both men were refused bail to appear before Singleton Local Court today (Thursday 8 May 2025), where they were formally refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday 9 July 2025.
Inquiries into the incident continue under Strike Force Sanderston.