On June 7, 2006, a client of former solicitor Alex Ardalich, 66, was stopped for a breath test. He tested positive and was found to be more than double the legal limit after a second examination.

However, he exercised his right to a blood test and was taken to hospital — where he called his lawyer.

Mr Ardalich took the blood test on behalf of his client, returning a sober result.

The scheme went undetected until Mr Ardalich was caught driving an unregistered car in 2014 while disqualified. Police collected a DNA sample and discovered the earlier deception.

The disgraced Adelaide lawyer was sentenced by District Court Judge Rauf Soulio to nine months’ jail time for fabrication of evidence, a sentence which was suspended for health reasons.

“I come to the view that having regard to your age, your mental health and your physical health, that it is not appropriate that you be required to serve an immediate term of imprisonment,” Judge Soulio said.