Allansford man pleads guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice in police operation

Tory Muller, 31, now of Mount Cottrell, told police 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 last year.

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

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

The court heard that in March last year police investigators obtained a supreme court warrant to phone-tap Warrnambool's William Orde, 27.

Then on April 8, police overhead a phone call in which Mr Orde allegedly said he crashed the Jeep Cherokee in Geelong and then fled the scene because he was carrying $50,000 cash and a litre of GHB.

Mr Orde then called a taxi and asked to be transported to Melbourne.

The court heard Muller agreed to take responsibility for the crash in exchange for $4000, some of which he used to purchase a $1800 blue Holden Commodore.

Then on April 12, Mr Orde allegedly told Muller he would send his number to the registered owner of the Jeep, Lily Goodwin, 28, and her partner Daniel McDonald, 28.

The court heard Muller sent text messages to Ms Goodwin in order to discuss plans to lie to the police.

Ms Goodwin allegedly asked Muller if he was sure he wanted to cover up the car crash, stating: "I don't feel good about that."

Muller replied: "I've already been fixed up for it", referring to the $4000 cash payment.

He falsely reported the incident to Warrnambool police on April 25, stating he was driving at 80km/h when he sneezed, saw a kangaroo and then swerved into the guard rail.

He said the vehicle belonged to Ms Goodwin and he was driving it in order to obtain a road worthy.

Lawyer Nadia Giorgianni said the offending was unsophisticated with Muller taking the "blame to cover a matter that he did not know a lot about".

She said Muller believed he was taking responsibility for a driving-related charge and was not aware of the alleged drugs and cash inside the vehicle prior to the collision.

Ms Giorgianni said the offending was motivated by greed and that in the days before the crash, Muller's vehicle was impounded by police.

But Judge Fiona Todd said the offending must be seen in the context of "not just a deception in order to get out of a financial rut".

"This strikes at the heart of the justice system," she said.

"Trying to divert police attention from the person who has committed this offence undermines public confidence in the justice system. It's important to keep this in mind."

Judge Todd excused a prosecutor from a plea hearing after an injury sustained in an incident with the court's "fierce automatic doors" and ordered Muller be assessed for a community corrections order.

The plea hearing will continue on March 23.

Muller, who is on bail, is expected to be sentenced on that day.

The court heard Ms Goodwin and Mr Orde will face a committal hearing on April 21 and Mr McDonald a plea hearing on July 6.

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