About 5.30pm on April 24, police from Central Hunter Local Area Command were patrolling Lomas Lane, Nulkaba, in relation to a driving complaint about a green Holden Commodore.

A vehicle matching that description was seen minutes later and police directed the driver to stop. They will allege the driver instead accelerated, and a pursuit was initiated.

The pursuit continued only for a short time before the alleged driver stopped the car and ran from the scene. He was chased on foot for about 300 metres and was arrested.

When the car was searched, police seized a shortened .22 calibre firearm with a scope and torch attached, ammunition, bags containing a crystal substance police allege to be methamphetamine (Ice), and an amount of cash.

The man was taken to Maitland Police Station and charged with possess unauthorised firearm, supply prohibited drug, police pursuit – not stop – drive recklessly (Skye’s Law), goods in personal custody suspected being stolen, drive motor vehicle during disqualification period.

The man was refused bail and is due to appear in Maitland Local Court on Monday.