Former Finks chapter president Tate Ward to face hearing over alleged brutal pub bashing

Police allege a group of Finks bikies dressed in club colours strategically timed their attack on two men at a popular Hunter Valley venue.

A former bikie boss who allegedly repeatedly smashed a man’s head into a wooden bench during a vicious brawl at a Hunter pub will face a hearing later this year.

Tate Desmond Ward, 33, previously pleaded not guilty in Muswellbrook Local Court to affray.

His co-accused, Benjamin James Main, 28, a Finks bikie rumoured to have also been president of the Newcastle City chapter at one time, previously pleaded guilty in Cessnock Local Court to the same charge.

Finks bikies Tate Ward (left) and Benjamin Main (right) were charged over an alleged brawl at a Branxton pub. Picture: Supplied.

The men were charged late last year after the alleged brutal bashing at Royal Federal Hotel Branxton in the days before Christmas.

Ward, Main and two other bikies, all wearing Finks branded clothing, had been drinking at the pub for about four hours on December 19, before the alleged fight broke out.

Police allege a heated discussion, captured on CCTV, took place between the group and two other men who made a comment to Main, but that the group were strategic in their retaliation.

Police allege the group waited until security staff were distracted by an unrelated incident before going after the men they’d argued with earlier.

Main previously pleaded guilty to his involvement. Picture: Facebook.

One of the men saw them coming and tried to hide behind other patrons.

Main and an unidentified bikie in a Finks T-shirt forced him to the ground, punching and kicking him.

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

The melee was broken up by security with both the Finks and the alleged victims leaving the venue before police arrived.

Main and Ward, who were not only wearing Finks clothing but who also have distinctive tattoos, were tracked down by detectives and charged at their homes.

Ward will return to Muswellbrook Local Court in September. Picture: Google Maps.

Magistrate Andrew Miller previously sentenced Main to a minimum of eight months behind bars for the affray, which Judge Roy Ellis quickly reduced to a 12-month intensive corrections order on appeal.

During sentencing, Main’s lawyer Roland Day told the court his client had been trying to turn his life around and distance himself from the outlaw gang before the fight.

“His choices are something he probably regrets,” Mr Day said.

“It led him to that situation … he probably thought he had a sense of loyalty.”

Ward will return to court on September 15.