A man has been charged after he allegedly assaulted a woman with an axe, stole her classic sports car then led police in a pursuit across the South Coast over the weekend.
Shortly before 1pm on Saturday 12 July 2025, police were called to Rayleigh Drive, Worrigee after reports a man was armed with an axe and hammer.
As officers attached to South Coast Police District arrived on scene, a man allegedly threw the axe at the police vehicle.
The man retrieved the axe then ran to a home in Illawarra Circuit where he allegedly assaulted a 66-year-old woman while she was sitting in her Ford Mustang.
Police will allege the man hit the woman multiple times with the axe before forcing her out of the car; the woman was then runover by her own car as the man drove it away.
The woman was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics for multiple leg and torso injuries before being taken to Shoalhaven Memorial Hospital in a serious but stable condition. The woman has since been transferred to St George Hospital for further treatment.
Following an extensive search of the area, police – with assistance from PolAir – located the vehicle about 2pm on the Princes Highway heading south and initiated a pursuit after the driver allegedly failed to stop when directed.
The pursuit continued through Nowra, Bomaderry, Berry, Gerringong, and Kiama during which the sports car allegedly reached speeds of 180km/h in an 80km/h speed zone.
During the pursuit, officers attached to Traffic and Highway Patrol Command attempted to utilise road spikes to stop the driver; however, the driver allegedly swerved the vehicle towards a highway patrol officer narrowly missing him and the spikes.
The pursuit ended after the sports car was seen driving on the opposite side of the Princes Highway at Kiama Downs, where it collided with a utility before stopping.
The alleged driver, a 25-year-old man, then attempted to run from the scene; however, members of the public held him until police arrived.
He was arrested and taken to Wollongong Hospital under police guard.
The driver of the ute was also taken to Wollongong Hospital for assessment.
Yesterday, (Sunday 13 July 2025), the 25-year-old man was released from hospital and taken to Wollongong Police Station where he was charged with 11 offences:
- Aggravated take/drive motor vehicle with person in/on it-armed with weapon
- Fail to stop and assist after vehicle impact causing grievous bodily harm
- Fail to stop and assist after impact cause injury
- Police pursuit - not stop - drive dangerously
- Class A motor vehicle exceed speed greater than 45 km/h
- Custody of a knife in public place
- Use etc offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention (two counts)
- Goods in personal custody suspected being stolen (not motor vehicle)
- Drive motor vehicle during disqualification period
- Larceny
He was also charged with three outstanding offences being destroy or damage property (DV), assault occasioning actual bodily harm (DV) and larceny.
He was refused bail to appear at Bail Division Court 3 today, Monday 14 July 2025
