Army veteran Guy Joel Westgate, 53, has been charged in connection with an alleged assault and kidnapping incident involving his partner, Kylee Barbette Robinson, 52. The charges stem from an event on August 2, when Robinson allegedly discovered an intruder in her shed.
Robinson is accused of assaulting the intruder with a baseball bat and then using a padlock and chain to tie him up, compelling him to reveal the location of other stolen items. According to police, the intruder led Robinson to a homeless camp in Boomerang Park, where she then allegedly assaulted two other men and damaged a vehicle.
Westgate was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company and kidnapping with intent to commit an indictable offence. He presented himself to Raymond Terrace Police Station and was subsequently granted bail with a $10,000 surety condition. In contrast, Robinson's bail application was denied, and she remains in custody.
Robinson faces charges including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, kidnapping with intent to cause actual bodily harm, and being armed with intent to commit an offence. Westgate, a former combat engineer in the Australian Defence Force, and Robinson were reportedly involved in an NDIS business, with Westgate serving as director and Robinson as operations manager. Their involvement in the business has reportedly been removed from its website and social media platforms.
The property where the alleged incident began, a two-bedroom home purchased by the couple in 2024, has reportedly been the site of multiple suspicious fires in recent months. Fire crews responded to structure fires at the home in February and March, with the latter incident being treated as suspicious by police.
Both Westgate and Robinson are scheduled to appear in Newcastle Local Court on September 30. Neither has entered a plea at this time.