The 25-year-old allegedly car- jacked a Kia Sportage in the City Plaza  car park just after 1.30pm yesterday.

The woman went to get in her car and was allegedly forced out of the car by the man before he took off on Marius St.

Police will allege the man attempted to steal a car in the Caltex Service Station across the road shortly beforehand but was unsuccessful.

Police were called and immediately commenced patrols of the area as highway officers combed the roads in search of the stolen vehicle.

The Kia Sportage was then allegedly spotted by police on the New England Highway near Uralla before they deployed road spikes.

The vehicle continued along and police will allege the vehicle reached speeds more than three times the posted limit in some areas.

A pursuit was initiated before more highway patrol officers were called in for back up.

A roadblock was set up on the New England Highway near Armidale but the pursuit came to an end about a kilometre south of the airport.

“The vehicle was road spiked at Uralla and the tyres disintegrated,” Sergeant Chris Pieterse said last night.

“The man was subsequently arrested and taken to Armidale Police Station.”

He was charged with taking a motor vehicle with assault, 

an attempted carjacking and police pursuit (Skye’s Law).

“Police are also investigating a number of other offences associated with the pursuit,” Sergeant Pieterse said.

The man was refused bail by police to front an out of session court hearing today.