Finks bikie Tate Ward to face hearing over alleged bashing at Branxton pub

Two men who were allegedly brutally attacked by the Finks at a Hunter Valley pub won’t give evidence in a court hearing for one of the outlaw bikies.

Two men who police allege were set upon by a group of outlaw bikies at a Hunter Valley pub — including one whose head was allegedly repeatedly smashed into a wooden bench — will not give evidence at a hearing.

Tate Desmond Ward, 33, will face the hearing at Singleton Local Court on January 20, after pleading not guilty to affray.

Finks bikies Tate Ward (left) and Benjamin Main (right) were each charged with affray. Picture: Supplied.

On Thursday the court heard Ward’s lawyer Bryan Wrench and the prosecutor had so far been unsuccessful in negotiating a guilty plea in the case.

Mr Wrench, a top lawyer known for representing celebrities including Sam Burgess and John Jarratt, told the court the two-hour hearing would not include the alleged victims.

“It only relies on CCTV, there are no victims in the matter,” Mr Wrench said.

Main was sentenced in March. Picture: Facebook.

Ward, a former chapter president for the Hunter Valley Finks, was drinking with members of the outlaw club at Royal Federal Hotel Branxton in the days before Christmas last year, when the alleged brutal bashing occurred.

In court documents police allege the group – who were all dressed in Finks-branded clothing – were drinking for several hours before a comment from one of the two alleged victims sparked a heated discussion.

Police allege Ward, fellow bikie Benjamin Main and another unidentified Fink waited until security were distracted by an unrelated scuffle before pursuing the men.

One of the men tried to hide behind other patrons but was punched and kicked by Main, who previously pleaded guilty to the same charge of affray.

Police allege Ward punched the second man before grabbing his head and repeatedly smashing it into a wooden bench.

They further allege the melee was broken up by security and patrons, with both the Finks and the victims leaving the venue before police arrived.

The Finks were identified using CCTV while the alleged victims did not form part of the investigation.

In Cessnock Local Court in March, Main was sentenced to a minimum eight months behind bars for his role in the assault. That sentence was reduced to a 12-month intensive correction order and 200 hours of community service in a District Court appeal.

During the sentencing, Main’s lawyer Roland Day told the court his client was on a cocaine and alcohol binge at the time of the bashing.