Top End youth arrested after threatening a security officer with broken bottle

A Top End teen broke into a Karama business and threatened a security officer with broken glass. Here’s what he was charged with.

A Top End youth has been arrested after breaking into a Karama business.

A Top End youth has been arrested after he allegedly threatened a security officer with a broken bottle when he broke into a Karama business.

NT Police said the 16-year-old boy filled a cardboard box with spirit bottles but dropped the box while leaving the scene on Thursday morning.

Officers said the male armed himself with one of the smashed bottles and threatened an on-site security officer who confronted him.

Strike Force Trident arrested the youth in Malak and took him to Palmerston Watch House.

The boy was charged with damage to property, unlawful entry of a building, stealing, and assault with intent to steal.

‘Completely reprehensible’: Man charged with child sex abuse offences

A man who allegedly groomed a child through social media and later had sex with the underage victim has been charged with a string of child sex offences.

NT Police’s Child Abuse Taskforce and Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team searched the 21-year-old man’s home on Tuesday, seizing several electronic devices.

He has been arrested and charged with two counts of sexual intercourse with a child under 16.

The man is also facing one count each of use carriage service to procure a child under 16, and indecent dealings with a child under 16.

He was remanded to appear in Darwin Local Court on Thursday.

Detective Acting Superintendent Justin Bentley said the alleged behaviour was “completely reprehensible”.

“(It) has no place in our community, with the offender grooming the victim over a period of time across social media channels,” he said.

“Police urge parents to consider their children’s online safety by reviewing their children’s online activity and the social media platforms that they use.

“Prevention and education are essential in keeping children safe online.”

The man was not granted bail and is due to reappear in court on March 15.

Anyone who has information on people involved in child abuse and exploitation is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Reports can also be made on the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation website at www.accce.gov.au/report.

Police officer allegedly spat on at unit fire

A man has been arrested after allegedly pushing and spitting on a police officer who tried to stop him from entering a burning home on Thursday morning.

About 1am on Thursday, NT Police received reports of a unit fire at Coconut Grove.

Police said when they arrived the bottom floor of the unit was engulfed in flames, with thick, black smoke billowing out the windows.

NT Fire and Rescue Service and St John Ambulance attended the incident, with one person treated for minor smoke inhalation.

One person was treated for smoke inhalation at the scene of a unit fire where a police officer was allegedly pushed and spat on. Picture: Che Chorley

While crews were battling the blaze, a man at the property tried to re-enter the burning unit before police stopped him.

He then allegedly pushed a police officer and spat on their face.

He was arrested for assaulting a member of the police force and was expected to be charged on Thursday.

Police said investigations into the fire were ongoing and investigators were expected at the scene throughout the day.

Man arrested after alleged attempted sexual assault

A 23-year-old man who allegedly attempted to sexually assault a woman on a busy Darwin road has been arrested by police after they tracked him to a remote community.

Police said just after 5am on Monday, December 12, a man approached a woman walking along the Stuart Hwy in Parap.

The pair was not known to each other.

The pair had a brief exchange before the woman continued walking towards Parap Rd.

Shortly after, she was allegedly grabbed from behind by the man before a struggle began, causing the pair to fall to the ground.

A 23-year-old man has been arrested in a remote community after he allegedly attempted to sexually assault a woman on the Stuart Highway this month. Picture: Glenn Campbell

He then allegedly indecently assaulted the woman.

Witnesses intervened and the man fled the scene towards Parap Rd.

Following the incident, police tracked the man to a remote community where he was arrested on Wednesday morning.

He was charged with attempted sexual assault and was remanded in custody to appear in Darwin Local Court on Thursday.

Detective Acting Superintendent Justin Bentley of NT Police’s Domestic Family Violence and Sex Crimes Division said police would “work tirelessly and across every inch of the Northern Territory” to bring alleged offenders before the courts.