Police have been told about 5.15am on Sunday, January 12, a 48-year-old man had arranged to meet a woman he had interacted with online, at a home on Government Road, Cardiff.

Shortly after her arrival, two men allegedly forced entry into the front door, armed with an ornamental sword and a metal pipe, before assaulting the man, police said.

The two men and the woman allegedly stole $650 cash and fled the scene in a vehicle, driven by a third man.

The man was taken to John Hunter Hospital suffering head injuries, including a fractured skull and a severe laceration.

Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District attended, established a crime scene and commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Following inquiries, a 25-year-old woman was arrested in Gateshead and taken to Belmont Police Station on Sunday 12 January 2020.

She was charged with special aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence - inflict grievous bodily harm and possess prohibited drug. She remains before the courts.

On Wednesday, February 19, detectives arrested a 34-year-old man at Rankin Park.

He was charged with special aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence - inflict grievous bodily harm and refused bail to appear before Belmont Local Court on Wednesday, April 15.

A 19-year-old man was arrested on Friday 27 March 2020 at Wangi Wangi and taken to Toronto Police Station where he was charged with special aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence - inflict grievous bodily harm. He was refused bail to appear before Toronto Local Court on Friday 3 April 2020.

On Wednesday, a 23-year-old man was arrested by Lake Macquarie's Target Action Group in Windale and taken to Belmont Police Station.

The man was charged with special aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence - inflict grievous bodily harm.

He was refused bail to face Newcastle Local court on Thursday.