A Latvian farm worker caused a fatal crash by driving on the wrong side of the road the first time he got behind the wheel in Scotland.

Andrejs Trofimovs was one and a half metres over the centre when his car collided with Allan Joiner's car, which was travelling in the opposite direction on the road between St Madoes and Errol in Perthshire.

Mr Joiner, 44, suffered fatal head injuries and firefighters had to cut the roof of his vehicle to remove his body. They also had to free Trofimovs and his passenger, Vitalijs Andrulis, from the wreckage.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard how Trofimovs crossed over on to westbound side of the Low Carse road shortly after 11pm on Saturday, November 22, 2014.

Advocate depute Alison Di Rollo said: "The collision was catastrophic, causing significant and extensive damage to both vehicles, injury to himself and his passenger, and the tragic and untimely death of Mr Joiner - a much loved father and family member.

"The accused is a Latvian national. In Latvia vehicles are driven on the right hand side of the road. This was the first time he had driven in the UK."

Trofimovs, 37, of Errol, admitted causing Mr Joiner's death by careless driving. He also admitted driving while uninsured for the vehicle.

The advocate depute told the court: "Collision investigators placed the Audi on the wrong side of the road, which has no markings dividing the carriageways, after carrying out an examination at the crash site.

"Both vehicles rotated after the crash and as they separated the Fiesta struck a post and fence and became entangled in wire.

"The force and suddenness of the deceleration on impact caused the deceased to be thrown forward, striking his head on the front offside A pillar, resulting in massive and fatal head injuries."

The Audi also hit a fence and went into a field before going into trees. At the crash scene the country road goes straight for about one and a half kilometres.

Mr Di Rollo said although the drivers may have been aware of the presence of the other vehicle for some time or distance they were unlikely to be aware of their relative positions on the road until much closer to each other.

When Trofimovs was interviewed by police, he admitted he was the driver and said it was his first time driving in this country, adding: "It looked like he was on our side."

Defence counsel Ronnie Renucci said: "This is a truly tragic case."

He said a background report would be required before the Latvian first offender can be sentenced.

The judge, Lady Wolffe, said: "This is a sad and very tragic case."

She adjourned the case for sentencing until next month and continued Trofimovs' bail, banning from holding a licence in the meantime.

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