Police allege 32-year-old Bassam Boustani armed himself with the garden tool at around 10pm and approached a car on Rippon Avenue, Dundas, while the 56-year-old driver stopped to use her phone.

He is then alleged to have hit the side of the car with the shovel and told the driver to get out.

When she refused, he opened the door, hitting the woman on the face, nose and arm with the shovel and stealing her phone.

She later required surgery.

The woman was able to drive away and get help, with police launching a manhunt with a sniffer dog, allegedly locating Boustani with a mobile phone 45 minutes later.

He was arrested and charged with robbery armed with offensive weapon causing wounding, aggravated assault with intent to drive or take a motor vehicle and revocation of a parole warrant.

Boustani did not appear in Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday, where bail was formally refused. The court heard he is on a methadone treatment program.

He will appear at Parramatta Local Court on October 29.