BY IAN CROUCH

A man is due to front Newcastle Local Court today on several charges following a violent robbery at Jesmond where a woman was punched in the face.

The 24-year-old allegedly attacked the 38-year-old victim as she waited at a bus stop on Newcastle Road on Saturday morning.

He’s accused of stealing her handbag and later using her credit card to buy cigarettes.

Police say witnesses chased the man down Newcastle Road but he allegedly threatened them with a brick and he ran off.

Officers later tracked him down to a house on South Street at Windale where he was found hiding under a bed.

He’s been charged with aggravated robbery, threaten injury to person with intent to prevent lawful apprehension and dishonestly obtain property by deception.