A 41-year-old Alice Springs man was charged by police after allegedly driving a defective and unregistered ute at his female partner early Wednesday morning while she walked along a footpath on Gap Road, NT Police said.

Police said the man drove the ute at the woman around 7:30am and after she jumped out of the way, he allegedly exited the vehicle and proceeded to beat her with “a blunt weapon”.

The man then allegedly put the woman in the back of the ute and fled the scene, police said.

“At 9:30am, investigators from Strike Force Viper located the vehicle on the Tanami Highway where the man was arrested and the woman was treated for non-life-threating injuries,” Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Chay McArthur said.

The man was charged with aggravated assault, driving an uninsured vehicle, driving an unregistered vehicle, driving a vehicle with a defect notice, driving without care and driving with medium range blood alcohol content.

He was arrested and expected to appear in Alice Springs Local Court on Thursday.

“This was a traumatic experience for the victim and it is completely unacceptable for this violent behaviour to be occurring within our community,” Snr Sgt McArthur said.

“If you or anyone you know is experiencing domestic or family violence please reach out on 131 444 or in an emergency call 000.”