Kyrgios Car Thief Believed Tesla Could Connect Him to Elon Musk, Court Hears

A man who stole tennis star Nick Kyrgios's Tesla while experiencing drug-induced psychosis believed the car would allow him to communicate with Elon Musk, an Australian court has heard.

The perpetrator, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced in the ACT Supreme Court to four years and six months in jail, with a non-parole period of almost three years. This sentence will be backdated to account for time already served.

The court heard that the man, who has a history of run-ins with the law, stole the bright green Tesla from Kyrgios's family home in May 2023. He threatened Kyrgios's mother at gunpoint before leading police on a chase across Canberra. During the pursuit, Kyrgios used the Tesla app to track the car and limit its speed.

Acting Justice Rebecca Christensen acknowledged the seriousness of the crime but also considered the perpetrator's mental state. She stated that the man was experiencing delusions about microchips, vaccines, and being persecuted, leading him to believe the theft was necessary to "protect society." He reportedly believed "he could communicate with Elon Musk" through the Tesla.

The judge acknowledged the man's remorse and desire for rehabilitation, but emphasized the need for a custodial sentence due to the severity of the crime and his extensive criminal history.

Kyrgios's sister, Halimah, spoke outside the court, expressing relief at the sentence while acknowledging the lasting impact of the robbery on their family. "We cannot bring back the peace that the man stole from us," she said.