A man has been refused bail for allegedly kidnapping a teenager and holding her at gunpoint in a home at Lake Macquarie, New South Wales.
Raymond Brownlowe, 70, is accused of approaching a 16-year-old girl on Martinsville Road, Martinsville while armed with a loaded nine-millimetre Luger pistol on August 23.
Mr Brownlowe is yet to enter pleas to five charges in Newcastle Local Court.
The charges include taking a person with the intention of committing a serious indictable offence as well as possessing a loaded firearm in a public place.
Police charge sheets tendered in court alleged that at the time of the kidnapping Mr Brownlowe held the loaded gun in a manner that was likely to endanger the teenager.
Police will allege in court that the 16-year-old was bundled into the boot of a car and taken by Mr Brownlowe to a home in the neighbouring suburb of Cooranbong and held against her will.
The girl was taken to a church in Cooranbong the next morning where she escaped and managed to alert police.
The police charge sheets said Mr Brownlowe was arrested just before midday and that his home was later searched.
The documents said officers seized a loaded 9mm Luger pistol and ammunition.
The additional charges include acquiring a pistol while being subject to a firearms prohibition order.
Raymond Brownlowe had his case mentioned in Newcastle Local Court today. (ABC News: Dan Cox)
Accused addresses magistrate
Mr Brownlowe watched proceedings via audio-visual link while his matter was briefly heard in court today.
Wearing prison greens and with his grey hair neatly cropped, a bespectacled Mr Brownlowe addressed Magistrate Caleb Franklin at the start of proceedings.
“Would you like me to stand up your honour and show you some respect?” he asked.
“No,” Magistrate Franklin replied.
As the case was adjourned to November 20, Mr Brownlowe addressed Magistrate Franklin again.
“Thank you, Your Honour,” Mr Brownlowe said.
Mr Brownlowe did not apply for bail but his lawyer indicated that an application would be made soon.