A homeless man who gave someone else’s name to avoid being arrested used the identity of a man who also had a warrant out on him, a court heard.

Police pulled Ernest Smith over on Montpelier Road, Devonshire, at about 10pm on April 20 after they spotted a faulty rear light on his motorbike, Magistrates’ Court was told yesterday.

Smith, 55, told officers that his name was Harley Smith and provided a date of birth.

A ticket was issued for failure to have the proper lights on his bike. Police checked the name and found that Harley Smith had not held a driver’s licence since 1987 and that there was also a warrant out for his arrest.

Smith raced off after police tried to arrest him on the warrant. He was arrested the next morning.

Smith admitted to police that he had given the wrong name because there was a warrant out for his arrest.

Smith, of no fixed address, admitted an attempt to pervert the course of justice, escape from lawful custody and failure to have proper lights on his bike.

Magistrate Maxanne Anderson adjourned the case until June 7 for reports and released Smith on $2,000 bail.

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