The Latest Breaking News from Helen Syme

Man jailed for nightclub sex assault on woman

A man who forced a woman to do sex acts against her will in exchange for drugs had a dysfunctional childhood that led to substance abuse, a court has heard.

AAP · Mar 25, 2024

Body modifier Brendan Russell has jail term slashed on appeal

The appeal was a landmark case into the underground scene of body modification in NSW.

Newcastle Herald · Nov 3, 2023

Christian brother jailed for preying on vulnerable boys

Victorian Christian Brother John Laidlaw has been jailed for seven years for sexually assaulting six boys over a 24-year period.

AAP · Oct 20, 2023

'House of evil': brother's appeal against rape, assault convictions

The Court of Criminal Appeal will sit in Newcastle for the first time since 2005 to hear convicted paedophile Daniel Slattery's appeal.

Newcastle Herald · Dec 1, 2022

Fake Uber driver abandons assault appeal

Fake rideshare driver Faizan Abdullah, 29, has abandoned his appeal after a Melbourne County Court judge warned he risked receiving a longer jail term.

AAP · Aug 8, 2022

Body modifier Brendan Russell jailed for 10 years after client with infected implant died

A judge says self-proclaimed body modifier Brendan Russell was "grossly negligent from start to finish" when a woman died from septicaemia after he inserted a snowflake-shaped implant in her right hand.

ABC News · Jul 4, 2022

Extreme body modifier Brendan Russell labelled 'a monster' by victim's mother

"My sons could have lost their mother, but you didn't care."

Newcastle Herald · Jun 1, 2022

Former NRL star Jarryd Hayne wins appeal over sexual assault convictions

Former rugby league star Jarryd Hayne will face a retrial after having his conviction for sexually assaulting a woman in her bedroom on the night of the 2018 NRL grand final quashed.

ABC News · Feb 13, 2022