A teenager who was caught by police driving while disqualified twice within a week dodged arrest by giving his brother's details, a court has heard.
When police finally worked out Braden Trevor Diehl (19) had duped them in January last year, they laid charges and added two counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
The driving charges, though, were laid outside the six-month time limit, and were dismissed by Judge Michael Crosbie at a Dunedin District Court sentencing yesterday.
''You are one lucky young man,'' the judge said.
Diehl was not so lucky on another driving while disqualified charge, which he committed on June 30.
The defendant had also admitted a breach of a community-work sentence for previous driving offences.
Judge Crosbie said the lies were far more serious than simply giving false details, because they resulted in police taking action against the wrong person.
The car Diehl had been driving lacked a current warrant of fitness and registration, which had resulted in infringement notices against his brother.
Counsel Brian Kilkelly said fortunately the ruse had been unravelled before his client's brother had faced any penalty.
''It doesn't take much imagination to see how that might've turned out for your brother,'' the judge said.
''Our system relies on people co-operating with that process and not seeking to undermine it.''
Mr Kilkelly said Diehl had a challenging upbringing and started appearing in court almost immediately after he turned 17.
However, his life changed at the end of last year when he got a job on a sheep and beef farm in Southland.
That position had since become permanent and Diehl, he said, was determined to grasp the opportunity.
Judge Crosbie said if the defendant drove while banned again, it would be his third offence and thus laid in its aggravated form, and he would be facing a stint behind bars.
He acknowledged Diehl had some ''unfortunate things'' happen in his life but he needed to stop using them as an excuse.
''You've been given a break,'' the judge said.
''You stuff it up, you're back here.''
Diehl was sentenced to four months' community detention, 15 months' intensive supervision and was disqualified from driving for 18 months.
