'Absolute shocker': investment boss lashed over pile-up

A private equity heavy-hitter has been disqualified from driving for nine months after smashing his luxury BMW into five cars and refusing to take breath tests.

TPG Capital's Australian boss Joel Thickins, whose firm manages more than $23 billion in assets, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to negligent driving and refusing to submit to breath analysis.

He admitted he crashed his BMW into another car in Queens Park, in Sydney's east, before it hurtled into another four vehicles earlier in June.

"It is an absolute shocker," Judge Michael Barko told Sydney's John Maddison Tower Local Court on Tuesday.

"Without maiming someone or killing someone, it can't get much worse."

Thickins had been drinking before he got behind the wheel, swerved out of his lane and crashed into a car coming in the other direction before careering into four parked vehicles, his lawyer said.

Justin Wong said the corporate bigwig - whose company manages more than $US220 billion worldwide - had exited his vehicle to check on the health of those involved in the crash and what damage he caused.

Thickins was ashamed and embarrassed of his behaviour, and had offered to pay for the damage done to the cars he hit, Mr Wong said.

He told the court his client made no attempt to flee the scene and had been fully co-operative with police - apart from undertaking a breath test.

"He certainly knows he should not have got in the car that evening," Mr Wong said.

Judge Barko rejected the characterisation he had been helpful with the authorities.

"He didn't try to bolt (but) he was indignant, obstinate, argumentative," the judge said.

Thickins was disqualified from driving for nine months and fined $1430.

He is the co-head of TPG Capital Asia and head of Australia and New Zealand, according to LinkedIn.

TPG Capital has been contacted for comment.