Tomahawk-wielding armed robber charged

A man armed with a knife and tomahawk has allegedly terrorised a service station employee before assaulting a police officer in Newcastle.

The 31-year-old attempted to rob the Adamstown service station before the store employee fled and alerted police, police say.

The man was apprehended a short time later, allegedly assaulting a police officer in the process.

He was refused bail and will appear at Newcastle Local Court on Friday on charges of attempted armed robbery, assault police, resist arrest and drug possession.