A TEENAGE soldier who had just passed his driving test 15 days earlier caused a head-on collision on the Peebles to Leadburn A703 road, Selkirk Sheriff Court has been told.

Connor O'Brien was on the wrong side of the road after losing his bearings and struck a car coming in the opposite direction injuring the driver and passenger.

Two teenage girls who were passengers in O'Brien's car were also hurt and both vehicles damaged.

The 19-year-old of Park Avenue, Loanhead, pleaded guilty to careless driving on the A703 near Craigburn by driving at excess speed and losing control of the vehicle before causing the collision.

He was fined £600 and had his licence endorsed with five penalty points which meant he escaped a compulsory six month ban for newly qualified drivers if they have six points on their licence.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said the accused was driving a BMW on the evening of February 5 and after picking up the girls aged 17 and 16 in Loanhead drove down to Peebles.

He explained: "At around 7.30pm a couple were travelling between leadburn and Peebles when they became aware of headlights coming towards them.

"Going round the bends the accused lost control of the vehicle and it crossed into the path of the south-bound vehicle and there was a collision.

"A following vehicle ran over bits of his vehicle and the other vehicle which were lying across the road.

"Everyone was able to get out of the cars but a number of people were injured."

O'Brien's lawyer explained that his client had misjudged the road lay-out thinking a lay-by was where he was heading and when he tried to get back to his carriageway and he swerved and lost control.

He said:"He does not remember the collision.

"He approached the other occupants and apologised.

"He was driving within the speed limit but accepts his speed was high for the road conditions."

The lawyer added that O'Brien served as a Private with the 1st Scots Regiment and had been recently deployed in Kenya.

He said soldiers required a driving licence and a ban could affect his employment.

The lawyer concluded:"He has had a period of reflection since the accident and hopefully long term it will make him a more competent driver.

Sheriff Derrick McIntyre told O'Brien: "I am sure you have learned your lesson."