The woman who was the target of a frenzied and sustained attack on a van in central Hastings had half her face "de-gloved" in the attack.

The incident, which occurred on the morning of Monday, February 5, followed days of arguments and assaults on the woman by her former partner, Raquada-Charles Edwards, who had been served a protection order three months earlier.

Early that morning Edwards, 24, woke the victim while she slept at a relative's house and told her she had to go to her father's house to look after their three children. That was a lie.

NZ POLICE Raquada-Charles Edwards, pictured, was inside Gull service station on Omahu Road, in Hastings, when his ex-partner managed to flee from her car.

As Edwards drove the victim in her car he began arguing with her. He got a large metal spanner and while driving used it to hit her in her thigh five or six times. He also smashed the front passenger's window.

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LISA MULLIGAN/SUPPLIED The van that Edward rammed repeatedly in central Hastings on a busy Monday morning.

According to a summary of facts Edwards told the woman they were going "home". When he pulled into a service station and paid for petrol she was able to escape from the car and run to a van carrying six orchard workers. They let her in the van and said they would take her to police.

Edwards ran to the van and tried to open the door. He began abusing the woman and banging on the van windows.

As the van started moving Edwards held onto it. He eventually let go of it as it crossed the forecourt then ran back to his car and began pursuing the van.

LISA MULLIGAN/SUPPLIED Photos show the damage caused by the aggressive ramming of the van.

He chased the van at speed, ramming it in the rear a number of times.

The van's occupants were very upset and concerned and the woman apologised to them repeatedly. Near the roundabout of Grays Road and Heretaunga Street, Edwards crashed into the side of the van. The van driver stopped on the roundabout, thinking Edwards would stop the attack.

Edwards continued ramming the stationary van. He would reverse then ram the van again. At times the van was up on two wheels before righting itself.

The woman lost her seating and suffered serious wounds to her face. Another occupant was injured after being catapulted through the van.

Edwards got out of his car and approached the van. He tried to open the locked doors and was yelling about the woman, saying his conduct was her fault, and that he wanted to kill her.

Unable to enter the van, he eventually returned to his car and drove away at speed.

The victim, who was terrified that he would return, tried to run away. She was restrained by those in the van who could see she had significant facial injuries.

According to a summary of facts "most of the right side of her face was 'de-gloved'" and required plastic surgery. She also suffered a small brain bleed and had numerous cuts and bruises.

The other injured occupant of the van had to be cut free by the Fire Service. He had broken ribs, a suspected broken spine, punctured lung and a dislocated shoulder. He spent seven weeks off work. Other in the van received various injuries and all were in shock.

Edwards evaded police for a month after the incident. He was arrested and charged in early March.

He appeared in Napier District Court by video link on Friday and pleaded guilty to charges of male assaults female, assault with a weapon, threatening to kill, three charges of reckless driving causing injury, and two charges of breaching a protection order.

He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced next month.