A YOUNG man accused of carjacking and bashing two teenage girls at Shortland on Sunday morning has been refused bail in Newcastle Local Court.
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Nathan McBride, 18, who police said was from Elrington, about 10 kilometres south-east of Cessnock, was represented by solicitor David Malcolm on Monday but did not come up from the courthouse cells or enter pleas to charges of aggravated robbery and inflict actual bodily harm, police pursuit, take and drive car without consent of owner and being an unlicensed driver.
Mr Malcolm said Mr McBride would not be applying for bail and Magistrate Robert Stone adjourned the matter until September 30.
Court news: the Newcastle Herald
Police said they were called to a carjacking of a red Hyundai i20 in Birrell Street, Shortland, about 2am on Sunday after two girls - aged 18 and 15 - were allegedly assaulted and robbed.
Newcastle City police conducted an extensive search of the area but could not locate the car.
Then, at about 11am on Sunday, police say they spotted the Hyundai i20 in Awabakal Drive, Fletcher.
They were watching as two male passengers got out of the car and went into a home in Awabakal Drive.
Police say the Hyundai i20 continued on and headed east along Minmi Road at Maryland.
An unmarked police car spotted the alleged stolen vehicle on Minmi Road and attempted to pull the car over, triggering a pursuit.
Police say Mr McBride crashed the alleged stolen vehicle into a blue Hyundai Elantra and was arrested when he got out of the car.
The driver of the Hyundai Elantra was not injured, police said.
Mr McBride was taken to Waratah police station and charged.
The offence of aggravated robbery and inflict actual bodily harm carries a maximum of 20 years in jail.
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