Former Finks involved in a wild Cooly Rocks On brawl get a slap on the wrist

A MAGISTRATE dished out a slap on the wrist for former Finks bikies who were part of a wild Coolangatta brawl that injured people and damaged cars at a major Gold Coast festival.

Bellakai restaurant, the scene of a brawl at the Cooly Rocks On Festival in June 2013.

THEY proudly walked the streets in club colours and terrified families during a violent rival gang clash at the Cooly Rocks On Festival.

But just nine months later the once-feared Finks bikies yesterday wore dress shirts, gave apologies and were escorted from court in pairs by their lawyers for fear of breaking the state’s anti-association laws.

BIKIES ACCUSED OF COOLY ROCKS ON BRAWL TO BE SENTENCED IN MARCH

Clint Harris, Leslie Andrew Markham, Billy Raymond Thomas, Grant Gavin, Clarence Joseph Kercher and Martin Hannken yesterday pleaded guilty in Southport Magistrates Court to affray, admitting they were caught up in a sudden melee with rival Nomads in full view of the public at the Coolangatta event.

Months later, a similar incident at Broadbeach prompted a statewide police crackdown and led to controversial anti-bikie legislation and mandatory sentencing.

Grant Gavin at Southport Court. Pics Adam Head

Under the new Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment Act, the six former Finks could have been staring down the barrel of a 15-year mandatory jail sentence.

But yesterday the sentencing magistrate was constrained by the former laws to hand out fines and community service orders.

The court was told a group of Finks went to the Cooly Rocks On Festival in their full colours and were strolling down Marine Pde when new recruit and former NRL player Anthony Watts got into a fight with five Nomads bikies outside a beachfront cafe.

Prosecutor Trudi Jobberns said shocked festivalgoers, including women with prams and children, were forced to take cover as the brawling bikies wrestled over the top of classic cars and bashed each other with cafe furniture.

Police at Bellakai restaurant where a bikie fight erupted at Cooly Rocks On.

A classic car was damaged during the melee and a 61-year-old festival patron attacked by a Nomad when he tried to film the incident.

Ms Jobberns said the fight dispersed in less than a minute but caused “fear and public alarm”.

Principal offender Anthony Watts was sentenced last year to community service, which he later breached.

Magistrate Ron Kilner said affray offences deserved tougher sentencing but he was bound by law to make similar sentences for the co-accused.

Clint Harris at Southport Court. Pics Adam Head

“I believe the increasing incidence of affray and the violent nature of these affrays have caused distress and alarm for members of the public and, as a result, there should be increased awareness that the courts will not tolerate this behaviour,” he said.

“Having said that, I am constrained to apply the parity principle and Mr Watts was given community service.”

Mr Kilner gave Thomas, 30, a 100-hour community service order and Harris, 26, 90 hours of community service.

Gavin, 29, received a $1500 fine, Markham, 32, and Kercher 39, $500 fines and Hannken, 43, a $300 fine.

Members of the Fink Motorcycle club handed themselves into police this morning over an incident during the Cooly Rock's On weekend. (June 2013.)

Hannken remains in custody on unrelated matters.

The court was told the men had tried to move on with their lives after the disbanding of the Gold Coast Finks branch last year.

Patched-over Mongols member Gavin said he had even relocated to Adelaide to dodge the Queensland bikie stigma and have a fresh start.

Outside court the heavily tattooed bikie, with a Mongols tatt on his forehead, offered an apology to the festivalgoers who had been affected by the incident.