Reinhold Schmidt: Former Yancoal mining CEO sentenced over drink-driving
“Late for a meeting” former Yancoal mining boss Reinhold Schmidt was caught drunk behind the wheel of his Porsche after he nearly hit an elderly man because he failed to stop at a pedestrian crossing in Lake Macquarie.
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A former mining boss — who was drunk behind the wheel of his Porsche and nearly ran down an elderly man at a pedestrian crossing — told police he didn’t want to stop because “he was late for a meeting”.
Reinhold Hans Schmidt — who was CEO of Yancoal Australia at the time of the offence — pleaded guilty to high-range drink-driving and not giving way on a pedestrian crossing in Lake Macquarie’s suburb of Boolaroo in February.
Police facts stated officers were patrolling Main Rd Boolaroo at midday on February 11, when Mr Schmidt cut them off in his 2018 Porsche 911 convertible.
Shortly after police observed the Porsche “slightly slow” as it approached a pedestrian crossing on the corner of Main Rd and Fourth St and drive straight through, narrowly avoiding an elderly pedestrian.
Police facts said after stopping the 54-year-old, police were dumbfounded by his “arrogant” response as to why he didn’t stop.
“Yeah I saw him but I was in a hurry. I am late for a meeting and did not want to stop,” court documents revealed.
Police facts also said officers had noticed his breath smelt like alcohol, his eyes were glassy and bloodshot, he was belching as he spoke and was unable to follow simple instructions.
Mr Schmidt was breath tested and blew a positive reading of 0.189, nearly four times over the limit.
He later admitted to police he was “having a ripper of a night” while at Cyprus Lakes Golf Resort at Pokolbin the night before and had consumed seven glasses of wine and champagne, as well as a glass of champagne for breakfast that morning, according to police facts.
Mr Schmidt fronted Toronto Local Court on Tuesday as his lawyer handed up a completed traffic offenders program and a number of references.
He also opposed an order for his client to undergo fingerprinting made by the police.
That order was refused, Magistrate Andrew Eckhold stating it seemed “unneccessary”.
“This is not a good example. You did not stop at a pedestrian crossing,” Magistrate Eckhold said to Mr Schmidt.
The Magistrate told the court he accepted Mr Schmidt had great pressure as someone who was high profile, working overseas and in the mining industry, but not stopping at the crossing was an aggravating feature.
“You have done treatment for your alcohol abuse and I take that into account.”
Mr Schmidt was sentenced to a two year community corrections order (CCO), disqualified from driving for six months and a mandatory 24 month interlock order. He was also fined $300.
Mr Schmidt led the China-controlled Yancoal Australia since August 2013 and resigned suddenly in March to pursue other “career opportunities”.
The mining company confirmed he had no disagreement with the board and there was no matter that required shareholders’ attention.
Former Yancoal director David Moult took his place.