Former wife of banker escapes driving ban

THE FORMER wife of a Scots tycoon found in her car, smelling of drink, on a Scottish motorway at 1am was spared a driving ban yesterday after a sheriff heard that it might damage her business interests.

Elaine Grossart, 57, of Montrose R o a d, Auchterarder, the ex-wife of Hamish Grossart, a member of one of Scotland’s most prominent banking dynasties, appeared at Stirling Sheriff Court.

She admitted being in charge of a car on the M9 in Stirlingshire on October 18 after consuming excess alcohol (46 mic when the legal limit was 35).

Depute fiscal Adrian Fraser said police on motorway patrol noticed the car on the hard shoulder.

Grossart told the officers that she had just pulled over to text her son.

“She was noticeably slurring her words and repeating herself,” added Mr Fraser.

There was a smell of alcohol in the vehicle and, when asked to get out, officers noticed “she was unsteady on her feet.”

Martin Black, defending, asked Sheriff Gillian Wade not to ban Grossart.

She had interests in two businesses and “the loss of her driving licence would place a burden and an uncertain future when it comes to the continuation of the business,” he said.

Sheriff Wade f ined Grossart £800 and put 10 points on her licence.