Troy Anthony Peden, 37, of Dubbo was released from a drug detox clinic only weeks before he made the fateful decision to hand a 16-year-old unlicensed driver the keys to his car.

The court yesterday heard Mr Peden's account of the highly charged events that occurred before and after the hit and run.

Just minutes after the borrowed car collided with Brendan and he was left for dead, Mr Peden claims he was confronted by its "tearful" driver.

The youth told the father of four his vehicle had been involved in a crash and the "only way out" was to call 000 and say it was stolen.

Faced with the car's "hysterical" passengers, who were described as crying, whimpering and vomiting, the court heard Mr Peden picked up the phone and made the call.

Mr Peden yesterday pleaded guilty to hindering the investigation of a serious indictable offence of another, receiving a 12-month good behaviour bond.

The court was told Mr Peden refused the driver's first request to lend him the vehicle, only to be badgered into agreeing to let him have it for an hour or so.

Mr Peden's wife, the usual driver of the car, was away from Dubbo and after it was driven away he set about doing some work around the house.

When the car's occupants arrived at his house in an "emotionally distraught" state, Mr Peden decided to take the driver's advice and report it stolen.

He dialled 000 but didn't get through, on his second try he reached a male operator who was told Mr Peden's car had been stolen from the Big W carpark.

Shortly after that call, Mr Peden heard a knock and found the police on his doorstep - later that day he gave them a "full and frank" statement of his actions, the court was told.

The timing and extent of Mr Peden's confession to police was outlined to the court by his defence solicitor Patrick O'Callaghan.

Mr O'Callaghan stressed that on the day of his offence, Mr Peden clearly told police what he had done and did not attempt to hide his actions.

At the time of the incident, Mr O'Callaghan said his client was a user of opiates and marijuana and had only recently come out of detox on the Central Coast.

Within the 36 hours following the incident, he said Mr Peden had a breakdown and was admitted to Bloomfield Hospital in Orange.

Mr O'Callaghan said Mr Peden subsequently underwent a rehabilitation and counselling program and had been drug free since entering Bloomfield.

He said Mr Peden was extremely sorry for his actions, and that in the context of the incident the 000 call had a minimal bearing on the police investigation.

In reaching his decision, Magistrate Paul MacMahon said the matter was serious as Mr Peden had abused a facility designed to promote the community's well-being.

Mr MacMahon said such actions diverted the time of the police and other services and that false information detrimentally affected their hard work.

However, Mr MacMahon noted that Mr Peden very quickly owned up and that he gave a statement the same day admitting his wrong-doing and the circumstances.

He noted that Mr Peden was now substance free, was undertaking university studies, was the carer of four young children and had expressed sorrow and contrition.

Mr MacMahon put Mr Peden on a 12-month good behaviour bond, with the condition that he undergo any drug and alcohol counselling deemed appropriate by the probation and parole service.

Mr MacMahon said such actions diverted the time of the police and other services and that false information detrimentally affected their hard work.

However, Mr MacMahon noted that Mr Peden very quickly owned up and that he gave a statement the same day admitting his wrong-doing and the circumstances.

He noted that Mr Peden was now substance free, was undertaking university studies, was the carer of four young children and had expressed sorrow and contrition.

Mr MacMahon put Mr Peden on a 12-month good behaviour bond, with the condition that he undergo any drug and alcohol counselling deemed appropriate by the probation and parole service.