A 65-year-old driver lost control of his hire car which left the road, badly damaging a house and causing a gas leak.

It was the first time James Hisbent had driven an electric car and he apparently put his foot on the wrong pedal.

Hisbent, of Newton Crescent, Rosyth, appeared for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He admitted that on May 28 at Craigleith Avenue, Inverkeithing, he drove a car carelessly, causing it to leave the road and collide with the exterior wall of a dwelling house, causing structural damage to it and rupturing external gas pipes.

Depute fiscal Azrah Yousaf said the incident took place at 5.30pm when a couple and their children were at home.

“They heard a loud bang and the house was shaking,” she added.

A Vauxhall Mokka hired by Hisbent had hit the house, exposing gas piping. There was a strong smell of gas and local residents had to be evacuated.

The depute said the information she had was that the family had still not been able to move back into their house.

Defence solicitor Alexander Flett said: “It’s very unfortunate. He’s driven for 35 years but this was the first time he had driven an electric car.

“He thinks he must have hit the wrong pedal by mistake and caused this unfortunate accident.”

Sheriff Garry Sutherland endorsed Hisbent’s licence with six penalty points and fined him £420.