Danny James Kearney used a fake Indian driver’s licence in a bid to get an unrestricted motorbike permit.

The Wangaratta man was considered a prospective member of the Bandidos and needed the licence to take part in their annual run, which travelled through Albury late last year.

Members of the outlaw gang must ride a certain type of bike, which the 26-year-old couldn’t use with a learner permit.

The fake Indian licence was presented to Roads and Maritime Services in Albury on November 18, but staff were onto the scam and seized it.

When he went back to the RMS on November 23 with a fake letter from the Indian Consular General, allegedly with a lawyer by his side, a copy was taken and he was refused further service.

The incident was caught on CCTV and through covert police surveillance.

The lawyer, Alina Yousif, has also been charged for her alleged involvement with the group, along with others.

Albury Local Court on Thursday heard the offending “fell out” of a larger investigation involving phone taps and covert surveillance. 

Police had been investigating drug supply in the Albury region amid concerns the Bandidos had plans to establish a chapter on the Border.

Kearney had also been caught organising an insurance scam after a crash on a Hume Highway off-ramp in Albury on October 16.

A crown prosecutor told the court the insurance fraud was a “relatively calculated offence” while the licence bid involved clear planning.

Concerns were raised about the people Kearney spends time with, but magistrate Rodney Brender said he couldn’t consider that as part of the sentence. 

“I can’t punish him for his associations,” he said. 

The court heard there were concerns about the path the 26-year-old would chose after being released. 

Mr Brender jailed him for 12 months, but released him on parole of about seven months.