NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Oamaru police officer's fear attack might prove lethal

Otago Daily Times
18 Jun, 2021 08:29 PM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Oamaru police sergeant Tony Woodbridge was assaulted in May 2020 following a police pursuit. Photo / File

Oamaru police sergeant Tony Woodbridge was assaulted in May 2020 following a police pursuit. Photo / File

Under attack by a man he thought he knew well, Oamaru police sergeant Tony Woodbridge's thoughts turned to fellow police officer Peter Umbers, who was beaten to death with his own baton.

Joshua John Chellew (33) appeared for sentence before Judge Joanna Maze in the Timaru District Court yesterday on charges of assault with a weapon, endangering transport, aggravated injury, intentional damage and failing to stop.

In 2019, Chellew was sentenced to four months' home detention for the 2018 hit-and-run death of Zara Blackie in Oamaru. He was driving the vehicle that struck and killed the 14-year-old girl.

He avoided prison again yesterday, being sentenced to 12 months' home detention, ordered to pay reparations of $3017.37 and disqualified from driving for 18 months.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The new charges related to an incident in Oamaru in May 2020, when Chellew failed to stop for police, instead accelerating away and reaching speeds of up to 130km/h.

The court heard that Chellew and his passenger threw bottles, pieces of wood and other items at the following police car and attempted to ram it.

When the pursuit came to an end, Chellew punched Woodbridge, grabbed him around the throat, squeezed his neck and genitals and jumped on the police vehicle. It took two officers to arrest him.

Woodbridge read his victim impact statement to the court before sentencing.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Aged 50 at the time of the incident, Woodbridge said he knew Chellew reasonably well, through work and a sports club in Oamaru.

The assault caused him numerous injuries, including a broken nose, sprained thumb, cuts on his arm that required stitches, concussion and bruises and grazes on his body and face.

Woodbridge said he had played contact sport his entire life, and had experienced previous concussions.

"But on this occasion, I really appreciated it as a brain injury, as it lasted a lot longer," he said.

Discover more

New Zealand|crime

Man claims Arthur Thomas encouraged him to perform sex acts while he watched

18 Jun 12:58 AM
New Zealand|crime

Drug deals set up over social media ending in assault or robbery

17 Jun 09:46 PM
New Zealand

Inside story: The convicted rapist who sold girl, 15, for sex

18 Jun 05:00 PM
New Zealand

Troublesome teen assaults cop after sneaking into circus

18 Jun 01:21 AM

"Two days after the assault, I tried to get out of bed, but I couldn't stand. I was dizzy and wanted to vomit."

Woodbridge was taken to hospital and diagnosed with delayed concussion, had to take two weeks off work, and was not allowed to drive.

"Psychologically, it really shocked me.

"There were four times during this where I thought Joshua could kill me; throwing bricks and firewood at the car, ramming the police car, when he tried to take my police baton off me — I thought of Peter Umbers — and when he had me by the throat and groin and was squeezing tight."

In 1990, Senior Constable Umbers was beaten to death with his own baton after stopping a robbery suspect in Ranfurly.

Woodbridge said Chellew had apologised to him in a letter and in person at his bail address.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Chellew had agreed to take part in a restorative justice process, but Woodbridge and his fellow police officer declined.

"He does his victims a real disservice by continuing his abuse of drugs. I accept he is an addict, but he needs to take responsibility and get help."

Defence counsel Paul Norcross said Chellew's response to the charges had been anything but flippant.

"He hasn't made light of anything in his instructions to me."

A family member spoke up for Chellew, saying he refrained from using drugs while on bail, and did a lot of work at home, and towards his stablehand licence.

In sentencing, Judge Maze said both police officers involved had expressed their shock at the events and the potential for more harm.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

She said Chellew's pre-sentence report was not particularly positive, but he had complied with bail conditions for a considerable period, and had positive support from some family members and a good work history.

He also had a significant history of offending and was clearly seriously affected by the fatal crash three years ago.

Judge Maze said Chellew's mental health issues were exacerbated by intermittent substance abuse, and there was a risk of further offending.

"Right now you are receiving significant positive support, and you are showing respect for that and the potential for change arises from it."

Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

Iran-Israel conflict: Why NZ is being urged to push for UN Security Council reform

23 Jun 01:40 AM
New ZealandUpdated

Emotional Caleb Clarke avoids conviction for fleeing police, named in ABs squad same day

23 Jun 01:05 AM
Crime

Neighbours heard cries for help as security guard beaten to death in Auckland reserve

22 Jun 11:08 PM

How a Timaru mum of three budding chefs stretched her grocery shop

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Iran-Israel conflict: Why NZ is being urged to push for UN Security Council reform

Iran-Israel conflict: Why NZ is being urged to push for UN Security Council reform

23 Jun 01:40 AM

Trump has warned Iran of greater future attacks if they don't make peace.

Emotional Caleb Clarke avoids conviction for fleeing police, named in ABs squad same day

Emotional Caleb Clarke avoids conviction for fleeing police, named in ABs squad same day

23 Jun 01:05 AM
Neighbours heard cries for help as security guard beaten to death in Auckland reserve

Neighbours heard cries for help as security guard beaten to death in Auckland reserve

22 Jun 11:08 PM
Watch: Aerial footage captures 'mesmerising' Matariki drone show

Watch: Aerial footage captures 'mesmerising' Matariki drone show

22 Jun 11:00 PM
Anzor’s East Tāmaki hub speeds supply
sponsored

Anzor’s East Tāmaki hub speeds supply

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP