Tory Muller walked into Warrnambool police station on April 25 last year and told detectives in a voluntary interview that he was the driver of a black Jeep Cherokee that collided with a guard rail on the Hamilton Highway, west of Geelong, in the early morning of April 8.

But telephone intercepts revealed the real driver paid Muller $4000 to take responsibility for the crash.

Muller used some of the cash to purchase an $1800 blue Holden Commodore.

He pleaded guilty in Warrnambool County Court earlier this month to attempting to pervert the course of justice, dealing with property believed to be proceeds of crime and possessing ammunition as a prohibited person.

On Tuesday he was jailed for the 107 days he spent in custody on remand and placed on a 24-month community corrections order with the condition he undergo treatment for drug abuse.

MORE READS:

Judge Fiona Todd ordered the Holden Commodore be forfeited to police.

She said at the time of the offending Muller was addicted to methamphetamine and GHB, and was going through a relationship break up, which was a result of his escalating drug use.

She said Muller was unreliable at work, had lost his job and his vehicle was impounded.

"You never tried to justify what you did," Judge Todd said.

But she said attempting to pervert the course of justice was a serious offence that "strikes at the heart of the administration of justice and undermines community confidence".

She said the offending was premeditated but also unsophisticated and naive.

"You agreed to make full admissions to driving a car at the time of an accident, you did not seek to avoid prosecution," Judge Todd said.

"You did it for money."

Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.