The former president of the Hunter chapter
of the Finks outlaw motorcycle gang has been released from jail
after police found a gun and ammunition in his car in August
2017.
Tate Desmond Ward, 30, was given a 10
month suspended sentence in Maitland Local Court on Friday after
police seized a .45 calibre self-loading pistol and 18 rounds of
ammunition from the boot of a Suzuki Swift he was travelling
in on August 12.
Ward pleaded guilty to possession of a
firearm when subject to a prohibition order.
Police withdrew several other charges
against him including possession of an unauthorised pistol,
possession of ammunition without a licence, not keeping firearms
safely, possession of an unregistered firearm and having custody
of an offensive implement in a public place.
Magistrate John Chicken said in court on
Friday there was no legitimate purpose for being in possession
of a .45 calibre pistol, and highlighted the recent gang-related
shootings in the Maitland area as an example of the danger of
those sorts of weapons.
“Bullets are going through glass windows
at Gillieston Heights, which is just a suburb,” he said.
“[The bikie feud] has spilled into the
public arena, people are diving for cover.”
However, Magistrate Chicken said the
incident was a lesson for Ward given the impact of his
imprisonment on his family. He called on Mr Ward to make a
choice between the outlaw motorcycle gang and family life.
Police from the Gang Squad’s Strike Force
Raptor were near Ward’s Maitland residence on August 12 to
ensure he was complying with bail conditions when they stopped
him and another Finks member, Brent Oliver and searched the car
the pair were travelling in.
Ward was charged and refused bail in
Newcastle Local Court on August 13.
Mr Oliver was also arrested at the scene
and charged with several weapon-related offences.
He was granted bail and appeared in
Maitland Local Court on Friday, where his case was adjourned
until Friday, June 1.