Tim ‘Sharky’ Ward returns to the Gold Coast but insists he’ll ‘never’ return to his old life

Despite a “chill” new demeanour, former associates of infamous returned Gold Coast loan shark Tim ‘Sharky’ Ward have claimed you didn’t want to be in his bad books. LATEST

Despite a “chill” new demeanour, former associates of the infamous Gold Coast loan shark Tim ‘Sharky’ Ward – a man once dubbed ‘Australia’s most notorious gangster’ – claim that he’s still “dangerous”.
“He’s a crook – it doesn’t take a genius to work that out,” one Glitter Strip veteran claimed.

“He’s dangerous – I’ve got nothing more to say.”

But the muscled Kiwi who stepped back into the public eye earlier this week with a virtually unrecognisable new leaner look maintains he has nothing to do with drugs or the underworld. He confirmed to the Bulletin he had relocated back to the Gold Coast but insisted he wanted nothing to do with the Glitter Strip side of life anymore.

A photo emerged online of the once imposing musclebound Ward appearing dramatically leaner.

Tim 'Sharky' Ward, then and now.

Contacted by the Bulletin, the renowned money lender, ex-nightclub owner and self-confessed one-time steroid user confirmed moving back to the Gold Coast from the Thai resort town Pattaya.

Ward said his return was prompted by “devastating impacts of Covid-19” in Thailand but insisted he had left his former Glitter Strip lifestyle behind: “I’ll never be part of that again,” he said.

“It was a part of my life, but it’s gone now – I just want to chill out, ride my dirt bikes and relax.

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“I got into intermittent fasting because it’s good for you,” Ward said, citing a new-found love of dirt bike riding as inspiration behind the dramatic weight loss.

“I’m carrying too much weight to do it properly. You can’t be 120 kgs and go out into the bush on a bike – you ride about a kilometre and then you gas out.

“I want to get to 110kg but I just can’t do it because of my big Kiwi bones.”

Another former associate, who did not wish to be named, said they believed the one-time millionaire – described as a “colourful character” – was starting a new chapter of life that would be more private than his flamboyant, Lamborghini riding days of the 90s and noughties.

“He’s been away but now that he’s back I think he wants to be left alone,” they said.

“He’s a heavy dude with a presence on the strip – he’s a scary looking fella and was never afraid to voice his opinions.

“You never wanted to be on the wrong side of him.”

Ward has admitted to his 60,000 social media followers that he used to show “no remorse” to people he had loaned money too, and made headlines in 2012 when it was alleged he’d stabbed a Canadian teacher in Thailand.

“The Police Lieutenant Colonel asked me why I stabbed the man. ‘Well sir, that's because I didn’t have a gun’”, he posted on Facebook at the time.

Ward claimed at the time he stabbed the teacher after he and his friends insulted him.

Ward said he’d arrived back in Australia last year.

He went to Thailand in 2009 following rumours the Australian Federal Police were investigating his activities.

Tim ‘Sharky’ Ward is back but is “never” going back to his old life. Picture: Supplied

Ward became known as the ‘Shark of Pattaya’ and developed a cult-following among locals – at one stage he noted how easy it was to pay off Thai police.

“You guys know how it is in Thailand. You can kill someone – but if you pull enough out of your pocket, you will eventually walk free,” he posted once.

Despite his past run ins with law enforcement, one former acquaintance said he believed Ward’s daily ritual of feeding stray dogs in Thailand – documented extensively on his social media accounts – proved he was a compassionate soul.

“He gained quite a reputation with those stories of him looking after dogs on the Thai streets,” they said.

“That was a really big focus of his life over there.”

The orphan from New Zealand moved to the Gold Coast in 1990 where he earned a reputation as a cutthroat businessman and feared money lender, charging 200 per cent interest on certain loans.

In 2002 he claimed the Office of Fair Trading or Queensland Police had set him up during a Supreme Court civil case against his loan business.

He lost and was fined $270,000 and ordered to pay up to $100,000 in government court costs after being prosecuted by the Department of Fair Trading.

Showing off his tattoos and Lamborghini. Picture: The Official Tim Sharky website

Despite his colourful history and people allegely describing him as dangerous, Ward insisted to the Bulletin he’s had nothing to do with the underworld.

“I’ve never smoked a joint, I’ve never snorted cocaine, I’ve never dealt drugs and if I know someone taking drugs then I don’t want anything to do with them,” he said.

Ward remained coy about his future plans, saying only he wanted to eventually return to Thailand once vaccine mandates were lifted.

“It doesn’t really matter what I do for work does it?” he said.

“I’m in the bush – I just want to ride my bikes and chill.”

Ward walking through the streets of Thailand. Picture: The Official Tim Sharky website