Adam McKinna, 41, smashed his Holden Captiva on Whitehead Street in Corowa on February 2 after driving across the border from Rutherglen.

He fled the scene about 11pm and the police didn’t realise the crash had occurred until he called them the following day.

He claimed the car had been stolen and stuck to the story for a few days, even after being questioned by police.

McKinna claimed he wasn’t on drugs or alcohol at the time.

He finally attended the Rutherglen Police Station on February 6 and admitted the vehicle wasn’t stolen.

He said he had been in fear and panicked before fleeing the crash.

He sustained a head injury in the incident. 

The Rutherglen man had the car under a hire scheme and he must pay about $3500 for the crash.

Wodonga magistrate Peter Mithen said it was “bizarre behaviour in lots of ways”.

There could be more to the story, Mr Mithen said, but there was no evidence of that before the court.

He noted that McKinna had wasted police time and resources by lying about the crash.

McKinna was charged with making a false police report. 

“You knew all along what happened,” Mr Mithen said.

He has a prior for hindering police. 

The court heard NSW officers were unlikely to charge him for the crash. 

The magistrate placed the father-of-three on a 12-month good behaviour bond, with conviction, and ordered he make a $1000 donation.