A Newcastle man has been charged with the alleged indecent assault of a three-year-old girl in a local shopping centre.


Police understand the 41-year-old man approached the child at a department store inside the King Street shopping centre on Sunday March 17 after she was separated from her parents.


When the girl located her parents she told them a man had touched her inappropriately.


Detectives from the Child Abuse Squad arrested the man at his home about 10:30 am on Sunday March 24.


He was taken to Waratah Police Station where he was charged and refused bail.


He will appear in Newcastle Local Court on Monday.


Anyone with information about this incident should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page.