More charges for teens accused of stealing ute on regional highway

Three teens are facing further charges after they appeared before children's court earlier this week accused of stealing a man's ute.

A 73-year-old man in Blandford in the NSW Hunter Region was flagged down by three people on the New England Highway at about 1am on Wednesday, police said.

The trio then allegedly stole the man's ute.

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Police in Singleton spotted the ute and tried to stop it a short time later, but it allegedly failed to pull over as directed.

Police pursued the ute towards Newcastle, and the chase ended in North Lambton when road spikes were deployed.

Three teenagers – two boys and a girl – were arrested at the scene.

The alleged driver, a 17-year-old boy, was charged with robbery in company, and police pursuit – not stop – drive recklessly.

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The passengers, both aged 16, were charged with a number of offences.

All three were refused bail and appeared in a children's court on Wednesday.

Overnight, police announced further charges had been laid.

Police will claim in court these charges relate to an alleged armed robbery and pursuit at South Tamworth, and an alleged attempted armed robbery at Willow Tree.

All matters remain before the children's court.