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Newcastle Herald
Newcastle Herald
National
Nick Bielby

Man charged after allegedly punching female police officer in face

Police with the 35-year-old after he was arrested. Picture: NSW Police

A man accused of putting a female police officer in a headlock, punching her in the face and pulling chunks of her hair out has been refused bail.

And senior police say the incident, in which a male officer was also allegedly elbowed in the face, shows the danger officers face on the job each day.

Police said the officers were called to a home at Buff Point just before 10.30pm after reports of a domestic-related assault.

When they arrived, they found William Peter Kershaw, 35, sitting in the gutter outside the home - he allegedly became violent and resisted arrest and assaulted the two senior constables.

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Extra police arrived and the man was arrested.

He is facing 13 charges, including four counts of resisting a police officer and two counts of assaulting an officer in the execution of their duty.

Bodycam footage tendered to the court showed the alleged assault unfold.

Northern NSW police commander Assistant Commissioner Max Mitchell said the two senior constables suffered minor injuries and had been checked at John Hunter Hospital.

He said it had been a testing few months for the pair, who were among the first responders to reports of an alleged shooting murder at Wyong in March, at which time the alleged shooter was still at large.

"Having our police assaulted, having any emergency services assaulted, is just not on," Assistant Commissioner Mitchell said.

"It happens too often in today's policing.

"To see this type of behaviour is just really really disappointing."

NSW Police Minister David Elliott said the alleged attack was appalling.

"This is an inexcusable attack on two officers who were simply responding to a call out to protect members of our community late last night following reports of a domestic incident," he said.

In Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday, Mr Kershaw was refused bail and the matter was adjourned to June 25.

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