‘White lie’ lands Ricky Nathan Landel in Dalby Magistrates Court for claiming to be driver in crash

A man who tried to take the fall for a friend after a serious car crash has learnt the hard way why honesty is the best policy. Find out more here.

Ricky Nathan Landel faced Dalby Magistrates Court for making a false confession to police.

A 39-year-old Dalby man has been hit with a hefty fine after trying to take the fall for a mate, claiming that he was the one behind the wheel at the time of a crash.

Ricky Nathan Landel faced Dalby Magistrates Court on Tuesday, pleading guilty to the single charge of making a false confession to police.

The court was told on June 14 Landel was in a Ford Falcon with two other people driving dangerously when they collided with two parked cars, fleeing the scene and abandoning the vehicle which was found by police in an undriveable state.

The following day Landel reported to the police station where he said he had been driving the car with just one other passenger and was at fault for the crash.

The court was told Landel was also reportedly vague with the details and said he couldn't be sure exactly what had happened.

Police then checked CCTV footage and spoke to witnesses where they discovered Landel had in fact lied about being the driver and there were two people in the vehicle with him.

Following the seizure of Landel’s phone, the court was told police found messages from the real driver telling Landel, who had no prior convictions, to take the blame for the crash even offering to pay him.

Magistrate Kathleen Payne said lying to the police was a serious offence and he was “lucky to not be charged with perverting the course of justice”.

Landel was issued a $2500 fine and no conviction was recorded.