Raymond Brownlowe refused bail for alleged kidnapping at gunpoint near Newcastle

A man has been refused bail for allegedly kidnapping a teenage girl and holding her at gunpoint from a home in 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-millimeter Luger handgun on Aug. 23.

Brownlowe is yet to face five charges at Newcastle Local Court.

Charges include taking a person with intent to commit a felony, as well as possession of a loaded firearm in a public place.

Police charge sheets filed in court alleged that at the time of the abduction, Mr. Brownlowe had the gun loaded in a way that could endanger the teenager.

Police will allege in court that the 16-year-old was strapped into the boot of a car and taken by Mr Brownlowe to a house in the neighboring 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 the police.

Police charge sheets say Brownlowe was arrested shortly before noon and his home was later searched.

The documents indicated officers seized a loaded 9mm Luger pistol and ammunition.

Additional charges include acquiring a handgun while subject to a firearms prohibition order.

The accused goes to the magistrate

Brownlowe watched the proceedings via audio-visual link as his matter was briefly heard in court today.

Dressed in prison green and with neatly cropped gray hair, a bespectacled Mr Brownlowe addressed Magistrate Caleb Franklin at the start of proceedings.

“Would you like me to raise your honor and show him some respect?” he asked

“No,” replied Magistrate Franklin.

As the case was adjourned to November 20, Brownlowe again addressed Magistrate Franklin.

“Thank you, Your Honor,” said Mr. Brownlowe.

Brownlowe did not apply for bail, but his lawyer indicated an application would be made soon.