A Chinese national who gave a fake name after driving unlicensed on the Great Ocean Road tried to bribe the man whose identity he stole, a court was told.
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Yichen Yang, 30, of Melbourne's Truganina, pleaded guilty in Warrnambool County Court to two counts of driving while suspended, exceeding the speed limit, failing to give name and address and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
The court heard Yang was a driver for Melbourne-based bus company Paramount Travel when his driver's licence was suspended in November 2017 due to accumulation of demerit points.
The following month, the touring company requested Yang to help the victim obtain a tour bus licence.
The victim sent a copy of his driver's licence to Yang.
Then on January 20, 2018, Yang was clocked travelling at 59km/h in a signed 40km/h zone on the Great Ocean Road near Princetown.
Police intercepted the bus near the Twelve Apostles.
Yang told police he had misplaced his license and driver work diary and gave the name, address and date of birth of the victim.
An officer searched the details provided and upon deciding Yang looked like the photograph attached to the victim's personal information, a infringement notice was issued.
Yang then sent the victim multiple text messages pleading with him to lie to the police and say it was him driving the bus.
He offered the victim $2800 and told him he would take on any future demerit points.
Yang rang the victim and attended his home on numerous occasions asking for his bank details. But the victim, fearful of getting in trouble, refused, and reported the offending to police.
In a victim impact statement the victim said he felt his personal details were no longer safe and that his credibility had been questioned by others.
He said the incident had an "irreversible impact" on his reputation and made him feel depressed.
Yang was arrested in late January last year.
He told police a friend visiting from China had asked him to drive a bus to the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne.
He said he initially refused because he knew he was unlicensed.
Yang told police he later changed his mind and thought it would be okay if he drove the bus safely and carefully.
He admitted speeding, stating he couldn't break in time to slow down to 40km/h.
He said he lied to police because he knew he was suspended and felt "very stressed".
The matter was adjourned and set down for a further plea on March 14.
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