Matthew Kelly pleaded guilty to armed robbery and resisting arrest after getting out of jail

A bumbling armed robber who was just out of prison and on the hunt for cash, had to get his victim to transfer money via PayID because he didn’t know how.

Matthew Kelly pleaded guilty in Newcastle Local Court (File picture)

A bumbling armed robber who was just out of prison and on the hunt for cash, had to get his victim to transfer money via PayID because he didn’t know how.

In Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday, Matthew Kelly was represented by solicitor Matthew Unwin as he pleaded guilty to demanding property with menaces with intent to steal, assault with intent to rob whilst armed with an offensive weapon and two counts of resisting arrest.

His two-day crime spree started on October 5 last year, targeting his first victim in Wallsend as he tried to drive to work that morning.

Kelly tapped on the car window as the victim was parked on Wentworth St and asked, “are you pastor of this church?” because he was out the front of a church building, police facts said.

But instantly after he said no, Kelly jumped into the front passenger seat and, according to court documents, brandished an axe saying “I just got out of prison, I need money, don’t make me use it”.

Kelly’s crime spree was in October 2024. Istock.

Police facts said that when the victim did not have any cash, Kelly ordered him to open his bank account and give him his phone, but when he couldn’t locate the PayID option, he became agitated.

Court documents said that was when the man took the phone back and did it for him, transferring $200 the first time and then $100 for the second transaction.

Police facts said that Kelly ordered the man to drive and told him “I’m a good guy, I just need money right now and when I have cash, I’ll get it back to you”.

He then fled the vehicle, slammed the door shut and ordered the man to drive.

The horrifying incident prompted the victim to immediately drive to Waratah police tation to report it.

The following day, court documents said, Kelly then targeted a 66-year-old man in Cooks Hill at midday, with two other offenders in tow.

Police facts said he also sat in the front passenger seat of this vehicle, and this time produced a knife and lunged at the man three times yelling “I’m going to kill ya old man” while slashing him on the cheek.

Amid the chaos, the 66-year-old was able to punch Kelly in the head, which forced the knife to drop before one of the other men ran around to his window and punched the victim in the head.

Court documents said while the victim fled screaming for help, Kelly tried to drive the car but had trouble, before eventually the trio ran off.

Luckily, police, who arrived shortly after, were able to lift his DNA from the vehicle’s door handle.

The facts said an officer saw Kelly in Darby St, Cooks Hill and gave chase before he was capsicum-sprayed several times.

Court documents said officers tackled him to the ground where he tried to punch both of them as they arrested him.

Kelly has been committed to Newcastle District Court for sentence on August 21.