Man accused of wild rampage armed with axe and hammer followed by pursuit near Nowra

A man allegedly went on a terrifying rampage on the south coast armed with an axe and a hammer. Police will allege he attacked a woman inside her car before running her over and leading officers on a pursuit in her car.

A man was taken to Wollongong Hospital and is under police guard after allegedly going on a rampage with an axe and hammer. Picture: Supplied

A man who just weeks ago walked out of prison has ­allegedly gone on a terrifying rampage, during which police say he attacked a woman with an axe and then ran her over with her own car.

Caleb Flentjar was released on parole on June 30, but less than two weeks later he allegedly carried out a wild crime spree that began about 1pm on Saturday when he was allegedly seen on Rayleigh Drive at Worrigee, near Nowra, armed with an axe and a hammer.

When officers arrived, Flentjar allegedly threw the axe at a police vehicle, before retrieving it and running to nearby ­Illawarra Circuit, where he saw a 66-year-old woman sitting in the front seat of her classic Ford Mustang.

Police allege Flentjar then attacked the woman with the axe, hitting her multiple times, in the process partially “degloving” her hand.

After forcing her out of the Mustang, police allege Flentjar ran the woman over with her own car.

Flentjar allegedly led police on a wild, high-speed chase. Picture: Generic, file.

Over the next hour Flentjar allegedly led officers on a wild chase, speeding from the scene before being tracked by a Polair helicopter which saw the stolen vehicle heading south on the Princes Highway.

Police attempted to intercept the car but were unable to do so, before following ­behind as Flentjar allegedly reached speeds of 180km/h as he weaved through Nowra, ­Bomaderry, Berry, Gerringong and Kiama.

“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,” police said in a statement.

Flentjar’s wild efforts to escape police were interrupted when he allegedly drove on to the wrong side of the Princes Highway at Kiama Downs and collided head-on with a ute, bringing him to a sudden stop.

Police allege that Flentjar briefly attempted to continue his spree, by trying to run from the scene of the crash on foot, only to be stopped by shocked motorists who detained him until the police who had been following close behind arrived.

Flentjar was arrested and taken to Wollongong Hospital under police guard.

As of Sunday evening he had not been charged.

The woman who was allegedly attacked with the axe by Flentjar and run over at the ­beginning of the wild pursuit was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics for multiple leg and torso injuries back at the Illawarra Circuit scene, before being taken to Shoalhaven Memorial Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

She later had to be transferred to St George Hospital for further treatment on her ­injuries.

The driver of the ute which Flentjar allegedly crashed the stolen Mustang head-on into was also taken to Wollongong Hospital for ­assessment.

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Originally published as Man accused of wild rampage armed with axe and hammer followed by pursuit near Nowra