Bennetts Green: Ryan Harris, 27, charged following alleged carjacking in Lake Macquarie

A man has been charged with allegedly driving a stolen car with a baby asleep in the back seat. He’s now faced court.

generic car image. Picture: Istock

A court has heard the father of a one-year-old girl frantically yelled out that his daughter was still in the car before a man allegedly got into the driver’s seat and sped off with the sleeping child in the back.

Police allege Ryan Harris, 27, stole a vehicle parked on Groves Rd, Bennetts Green, near Fantastic Furniture, and headed towards the Pacific Highway at about 2.30pm on Sunday.

It’s alleged to have happened all while the sleeping baby was in the back seat, before a short time later police allege Harris stopped the vehicle in a carpark on Groves Rd, got out and then fled.

Luckily the child was unharmed.

Following extensive inquiries, officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District arrested Harris at a home on Cherry St, Windale, at about 3pm on Monday.

A man allegedly carjacked a vehicle with a sleeping baby inside at Bennetts Green, near Fantastic Furniture on November 19, 2023. Google Maps

He was taken to Belmont Police Station where he was charged with unlawfully take/drive motor vehicle with person in/on it, which carries a maximum of 10 years imprisonment, take & drive conveyance without consent of owner, and learner not accompanied by driver/police officer/tester.

In Belmont Local Court on Tuesday Harris appeared in person as he made an application for bail.

Police Prosecutor Sergeant Rhys Harvey opposed his release citing the father of the child had yelled out to him at the time, telling him his daughter was still in the vehicle and said his offending was opportunistic, a type of behaviour which was typical of Harris.

Mr Harvey told the court Harris had a “commission of other serious offences” under his belt, including some that were concerning including a violent offence where he used an offensive weapon in company which resulted in a 10 month prison sentence in 2019.

He said if released on bail it was likely he would re-offend and wouldn’t attend court in the future and therefore he was an unacceptable risk.

But legal aid solicitor Alison Nowland said there was no evidence her client had heard the father “utter” the words or had knowledge a child was in the back of the vehicle.

She told the court it would come down to the quality of the CCTV footage of the alleged incident.

Not denying the seriousness of the alleged offence, saying “it’s every parents worst nightmare”, Ms Nowland cited it was a short distance travelled and the vehicle was placed in a safe location when stopped and there was minimal danger to the child.

“Yes he does have previous offences but otherwise he is not known for these types of offences, limited in degree of planning,” she told the court.

She offered up strict bail conditions including daily reporting conditions, house arrest and not to occupy a drivers seat of a vehicle or motorbike but Magistrate Stephen Olischlager concluded the risk was still there.

He said while it was “relatively short” he did put the child in jeopardy and Harris also had a record for other offending some of which was serious.

“Conduct is opportunistic and random and raises issues for the protection of the community,” he said.

Harris also had other charges of stealing a motor vehicle at Charlestown Square on October 22 and a charge of enter inclosed lands without lawful excuse.

Bail was refused and his matters were adjourned until next month.