The chairman of the Institute of the Motor Industry and former chief executive of the Scottish Motor Trade Association (SMTA), Adrian Smith, has admitted drink driving.

Aberdeen’s Press & Journal newspaper reported that the 62-year-old appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on Monday (January 6) after allegedly being found on an unnamed road between the A93 and A90 in Milltimber on December 10.

Police found that Smith had 116 micrograms of alcohol in his breath when a breathalyser test was administered, the court heard – more than five times over the legal drink driving limit.

The legal limit for drink driving in Scotland is 22mcg, compared to 35mcg in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Smith, who previously ran Adrian Smith Saab, pleaded guilty to drink-driving.

Smith’s solicitor, Gregor Kelly, told the court that Smith had recently suffered the death of his father and also the loss of his position at an oil company, the Press & Journal reported.

Kelly described Smith’s drink driving as “an isolated incident”, adding that there was no suggestion that he was anything other than a law abiding citizen.

Passing sentence, Sheriff William Summers banned Smith from driving for two years and fined him £2,000.

Smith is listed on the Industry of the Motor Industry website as chairman of the Scottish Employer Forum for the IMI Sector Skills Council and also chairman of the Grampian Motor Training Trust, which provides assistance to motor industry personnel in the Grampian Region of Scotland who wish to up-skill. 

Speaking to AM today (January 9), IMI chief executive said that the body would not be rushed into a "knee-jerk reaction" in response to Smith's conviction this week.

He said: "Adrian has been a standout charirman for the IMI for seven years and his contribution to the industry, especially in Scotland, has been huge.

"No one will be beating themselves up about this more than him. I know he's mortified.

"This was wholly out of character and very much linked to recent events in his life which I'm not at liberty to comment on."