A man has been charged after an attempted armed robbery at a Mayfield West service station this morning.
Police say the 30-year-old man entered the Maitland Road station just after midnight and threatened the employee with a knife.
It’s believed the staff member took shelter in a back room of the business while he waited for the alleged offender to leave.
He returned a second time when he saw the employee at the counter – and again threatened them with a knife but left empty handed.
Local police patrolling the area were alerted and found the alleged offender in a street nearby, seizing his knife for forensic examination.
The man who is from Sydney, was arrested and charged with assault with intent to rob armed with offensive weapon, and custody of knife in public place.
This is the second attempted robbery of a service station in the Newcastle area in two days.
