A DRINK driver who was more than five times the legal limit crashed into a car, leaving two women with injuries.

Petrica Paval failed to keep a proper lookout as he pulled out onto the A199 near to Samuelston and crossed into the path of the oncoming vehicle.

The cars collided and Frances Young and Elizabeth Arundel were both left with injuries.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard that Ms Young suffered facial injuries and seatbelt injuries.

Following the collision, Paval was breath tested and gave a reading of 118mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath – more than five times the limit of 22mcg.

Paval, of East Mains Cottages, Samuelston, had previously pleaded guilty to two charges and he returned to the dock for sentencing last Friday.

Representing himself at court, Paval told Sheriff Norman McFadyen he was sorry for what he had done.

He added he was in full-time employment and the job would still be open to him after he had been sentenced.

Paval handed over a letter of reference from his employer, which the sheriff said had been “very helpful”.

But Sheriff McFadyen told the drink-driver he had committed “a very serious offence” and that he was “fortunate” not to have injured the women more seriously.

Sheriff McFadyen said: “This was a very serious offence and you had clearly been drinking a large quantity of alcohol the previous day.”

The sheriff said that Paval had carried out “very dangerous driving” that morning but noted he was a first offender and had shown a good deal of “remorse and sense of responsibility”.

Paval was placed on supervision and was banned from driving for 12 months. He was told he must sit the extended driving test if he wants to get back behind the wheel.

He was also fined £900 and ordered to carry out 225 hours of unpaid work in the community.

Paval pleaded guilty to driving dangerously by failing to keep a proper lookout, crossing into the path of an oncoming vehicle and colliding with the vehicle, causing injury to two people at the A199 near to Samuelston on August 13, as well as driving with 118mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath.