Trigg Rd, Chittaway Bay: Man accused of break-in, murder of elderly man

UPDATE: Paul Clarke, well known for jogging shirtless on the Central Coast, has been charged with the murder of a 70-year-old ‘doting grandfather’ following an alleged home invasion.

A 30-year-old man has been charged with the murder of a ‘doting grandfather’ following a home invasion at a house on the Central Coast.

Paul Clarke was not required to appear in Wyong Local Court on Thursday where his Legal Aid solicitor did not apply for bail and it was formally refused.

Mr Clarke was also charged with recklessly damaging the door of a holding cell at Wyong Police Station following his arrest on Wednesday.

Police will allege Mr Clarke forced his way inside the front door of Allen Lambert’s home on Trigg Rd, Chittaway, about 8.45pm on Tuesday.

Acting Superintendent Alan Janson said police will allege Mr Lambert was assaulted at the front door before the alleged assailant fled on foot.

Scene of the alleged murder of Allen Lambert at Trigg Rd, Chittaway Bay.

“Emergency services responded quickly, the 70-year-old male was transported to hospital (but) despite the best efforts of paramedics and medical staff he succumbed to his injuries and passed away at Gosford Hospital,” he said.

Mr Lambert’s wife Margaret, 67, and a 10-year-old girl were home at the time but were not injured.

A crime scene was established and Tuggerah Lakes Police, with assistance from the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad, commenced an investigation.

Alleged murderer Paul Clarke. Picture: Facebook.

Allen Lambert, 70. Pictures: Facebook.

Following inquiries, about 12pm on Wednesday police conducted a search at a home on Lorraine Ave, Berkeley Vale, and seized a number of items.

Acting Supt Janson said while police were there, a 30-year-old man returned to the property but seeing officers he ran from the scene, discarding a baseball bat and a jacket in a neighbouring garden.

The property at Lorraine Ave, Berkeley Vale where Paul Clarke, 30, was arrested and later charged with the murder of Allen Lambert at Chittaway Bay.

“Police will allege the male had a baseball bat wrapped in a jacket when he was arrested,” he said.

“We will allege that was the weapon that may have been used in the offence.

“It’s a very tragic set of circumstances, at this stage police don’t really understand the motivation for this attack and we don’t believe it was a random attack but we are still working on that through the investigation.”

Acting Supt Janson said from their initial inquiries the victim and the alleged offender “weren’t known to each other”.

Mr Clarke is well known in the area as the “running man” often seen jogging shirtless along the Pacific Highway at Tuggerah and Wyong Rd, towards Berkeley Vale, wearing sneakers, shorts and large wireless headphones.

Meanwhile Mr Lambert has been described by neighbours as a “doting grandfather”.

Neighbours said the retired Tesltra technician, who used to commute to Sydney by train, was often seen riding a bicycle with his wife from their home down to Tuggerah Lake.

They said he was affectionately known as “Pop man” and his wife “Lady” having cared for many children over the years.

Mr Clarke meanwhile will reappear at Wyong Local Court on February 8.