Ryan Twist admits to Illawarra armed car theft months after co-offender Robert Whitfield jailed

A couple of clumsy criminals botched the armed theft of a friend’s car, with one them pleading “how do you f--king start it?” as they failed to make a prompt getaway.

Ryan Twist pleaded guilty to two charges in Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday.

A couple of clumsy criminals bungled the armed theft of a friend’s car, with one of the duo pleading “how do you f--king start it?” as they failed to make a prompt getaway.

Ryan Elliott Twist appeared from custody in Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to stealing a vehicle in company and using an offensive weapon to commit an indictable offence.

The 37-year-old’s entered the pleas exactly 12 months after he pulled out a machete during the botched Mazda 6 heist with co-offender Robert Whitfield.

Whitfield, 24, previously pleaded guilty to stealing a vehicle in company and was sentenced to 14 months behind bars, with a non-parole period of half that time.

Documents tendered in court state Twist, Whitfield and a woman were socialising with the car owner’s partner at the victim’s Dapto home during the early hours of January 8, 2024.

Ryan Twist will be sentenced in Wollongong District Court.

During this period, the keys to the car were swiped without the owner’s knowledge.

The trio left about 7am and, a short time later, Whitfield messaged: “Lets (sic) take this c--t here with us somewhere and drop him off and come back for the car.”

Twist said “K” before Whitfield asked about who would drive the car.

Documents state Twist and Whitfield returned about 9am and jumped into the car, with the latter sitting in the driver’s seat.

Robert Whitfield pleaded guilty and was sentenced for his involvement in 2024.

The car owner’s partner, with whom Twist and Whitfield had been hanging out only hours earlier, stormed outside and yelled “what are you f--king doing?” and “get out of the car”.

While documents state Whitfield “produced an item (which the man) perceived to be a pistol”, he was not charged with any firearms offences as the Crown conceded it could not prove the presence of a pistol beyond reasonable doubt.

The man’s partner yelled “the police are on their way”, prompting Whitfield to respond: “What? Are you calling police?”

The man approached Twist, who was in the passenger seat, with a metal pole before the offender wielded a machete.

The man said he was calling the police and Twist replied: “Don’t f--king do it, c--t. Don’t do it.”

Documents state the whole plot came unstuck due to the Mazda having a flat battery.

Whitfield stuck his head out the window and begged “how do you f--king start it”, which led the man to fire back: “Get f--ked.”

Documents state the pair of criminals exited the car and Twist smashed the rear windscreen with the handle of the machete before they fled in an MG driven by the woman who had been with them earlier.

Police tracked down Whitfield and Twist a couple of hours later at a unit block on Kembla St, Wollongong, where they were arrested.

Whitfield refused to speak to police. However, when Twist was interviewed, he claimed they had been given permission to use the car.

Twist will be sentenced in Wollongong District Court at a later date.

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