Diana Shoolman charged with high range drink driving

A high-flying accountant who has held leadership roles at some of Australia's Big 4 firms blew an eye-wateringly high blood alcohol reading after drunkenly crashing into a trailer and a parked car.

Diana Shoolman, 52, at Downing Centre Local Court.

A high-flying chartered accountant who has held leadership positions at Big 4 firms was more than five times the legal blood alcohol limit when she ploughed into a boat trailer and a parked car in an exclusive Sydney postcode.

Former head of professional services at NAB Diana Shoolman was charged with drink driving for the fourth time in seven years after the alarming incident in Rose Bay on August 5.

Police documents tendered to Downing Centre Local Court reveal Shoolman first hit a boat trailer on Newcastle St, before colliding head on with a parked Audi in the Parisi’s Food Hall carpark just before 1pm.

“The accused admitted to consuming a substantial amount of vodka orange at her home since around 9am,” police stated.

“The accused does not know the number of drinks she consumed at the time (or) if she had consumed any food during that time.”

At Waverley police station, Shoolman blew an eye-watering 0.251 – more than five times the 0.05 limit.

Diana Shoolman.

“Police’s opinion is that the accused was well affected due to intoxicating liquor, (and) the risk and danger of the accused driving was high,” police stated.

“The area is surrounded by restaurants, businesses, residences, a golf course and parks and is therefore occupied with pedestrians at all times.”

Shoolman pleaded guilty to high range drink driving at Downing Centre Local Court on October 6, where Magistrate Margaret Quinn noted it was her fourth offence.

She was sentenced for mid-range drink driving in 2016, and low range drink driving in 2017 and 2019.

Shoolman is also exposed to greater penalties as this is her second offence in the same five year period.

Diana Shoolman, 52.

“I must consider a custodial sentence, I have to,” Ms Quinn said.

“What happens is, people generally are given bonds and it turns into a bit of a joke, they come back and they can’t believe it when they’re facing a full time sentence.”

The court heard Shoolman has worked for some of the nation’s biggest banks and Big 4 accounting firms.

Ms Quinn described Shoolman as a high achiever whose conduct had done her a “great disservice”.

“She’s got good references,” Ms Quinn observed.

“I can’t give much weight to the one from PwC, given recent events.”

Ms Quinn ultimately decided to adjourn the sentence to give Shoolman time to demonstrate she could be abstinent from alcohol and become suitable for community service work.

The magistrate also asked for a fresh sentencing assessment report after the current version assessed Shoolman as a low risk of drink driving again.

“How they can say she is a low risk, I don’t know,” Ms Quinn said.

“It’s utterly ridiculous.”

Shoolman will be sentenced on March 25.