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Seven charged following alleged aggravated break-in and assault

Six men and a teenager have been charged following investigations into an alleged aggravated break-in near Grafton. At about 5.30pm on Friday February 20, six men and a teenage boy allegedly broke into a rural property on the Clarence Way at Whiteman Creek via Grafton. A 55-year-old male resident was allegedly assaulted and suffered bruising and lacerations to his face, legs and back of his head, before the group left in two vehicles. The man attended Grafton hospital for treatment of his injuries and reported the incident to police the following day. Police from Coffs Clarence Local Area Command commenced investigations into the incident. At about 10.30am on Monday February 22, police attended a home at Fortis Creek and arrested a 19-year-old man. Following a search of the premises, officers allegedly located a hidden .22 calibre rifle, ammunition and several cannabis plants and seeds. The 19-year-old man was taken to Grafton police station and charged with aggravated break and enter with intent in company, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, common assault and firearms offences. He was refused bail and appeared before Grafton Local Court on Tuesday February 23 and was granted conditional bail to reappear at the same court on Monday April 4, 2016. Two men and a teenage boy – aged 18, 21 and 15 – were arrested at Grafton police station on Monday February 22. The 18-year-old man was charged with aggravated break and enter with intent in company, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault. The 21-year-old man was charged with common assault. Both men were granted conditional bail to appear before Grafton Local Court on April 4. A 15-year-old boy was interviewed by police and released pending further inquiries. At about 2pm on Tuesday February 23, the 15-year-old returned to Grafton police station where he was arrested and charged with four offences: aggravated enter dwelling with intent and inflict actual bodily harm; never licensed person drive vehicle on road; use uninsured motor vehicle; and, use unregistered motor vehicle. He was granted conditional bail to appear before a children’s court on Monday April 4. Following further inquiries on Tuesday February 23, police attended two homes in Geregarow Road, Shannondale and arrested two 21-year-old men and a 19-year-old man. All were taken to Grafton police station and charged with aggravated enter dwelling with intent in company and were granted conditional bail to appear before Grafton local court on Monday April 4. Inquiries into the incident are continuing and further charges are expected. Police are urging anyone with information in relation to these incidents to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information provided will be treated in the strictest of confidence. “We remind people they should not report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter pages,” police said.