ONE after another their names were called and 21 members of the Newcastle Nomads pleaded guilty to participating in a criminal group during the gang's turf war with the Finks.
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As foreshadowed by the Newcastle Herald, legal representatives for the Nomads bikies and Strike Force Raptor prosecutors came to a plea agreement in the massive criminal groups hearing on Thursday, avoiding what was set to be a marathon three-week showdown in Newcastle Local Court.
Magistrate David Price had ordered the 21 Nomads to appear in court on Thursday to enter their pleas, but that decision was reversed on Wednesday afternoon and they were all excused from attending.
In their stead was barrister Bill Hussey and solicitor Kristy Winter, who, along with police prosecutor Sergeant Lachlan Kirby, worked methodically through the Nomads members' criminal charges.
Over a number of hours, each one of the 21 Nomads pleaded guilty to participating in a criminal group, while other charges were withdrawn.
Crime and court news: Headlines from Newcastle courts
Among those were high-ranking members Dylan Patrick Brittliffe, Bradley Bowtell, Kane Benjamin Tamplin, Blake Kevin Martin and James Kenneth Quinnell, who were the five members of the gang subject to the Supreme Court's Serious Crime Prevention Orders.
The charges stem from widespread police raids in April last year that were in response to about 18 months of gang warfare between the Nomads and the Finks, including several drive-by shootings, firebombings and brawls.
Members of the Finks were also charged with criminal group offences after the raids and pleaded guilty long before the Nomads.
The court heard on Thursday that the majority of the Finks have been sentenced, including a number who received intensive corrections orders and community service orders.
The Nomads will be sentenced at a later date and those with criminal records or who are in breach of good behaviour bonds could be looking at a jail term.
"There will be a number of co-offenders that I will be submitting that [a custodial sentence is appropriate]," Sergeant Kirby told Mr Price.
"I'm not suggesting that full-time custody is the only option available to the court.
"But I would submit that the threshold has been crossed and, in some cases, an [intensive corrections order] may be appropriate."
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