AI executive pleads guilty to assaulting musicians in pub, keeps job
A $7.2 billion artificial intelligence company still lists Timothy Bentley as one of its top Australian executives despite pleading guilty to assaulting two musicians at a bar in Sydney’s CBD.
Bentley, vice president of Asia-Pacific sales for cybersecurity technology company Abnormal AI, pleaded guilty to two common assault charges on Monday over the incident at the Ramblin Rascal Tavern in central Sydney this year.
Bentley, who lives in Mosman on Sydney’s north shore, was released on bail after being charged with a fight that took place around 9pm on Friday, February 13, shortly before a concert by local band The Grand Union, which performed in bars around Sydney.
He was sitting with two men when the tech executive started heckling the band, at which point The Grand Union’s guitarist and songwriter Stu Greenwood told him to stop.
Bentley had been drinking “several alcoholic” drinks, including beer and whiskey, when the fight occurred, according to a police information sheet lodged at Downing Center Local Court.
He then punched Greenwood in the face, leaving him with a broken nose and chipped tooth, according to medical records seen by this outlet.
Bentley then punched John Flaws, a member of another band called Bloody Legend, who tried to intervene before leaving Metro. The imperfections suffered a cracked lip that required stitches. Photos taken by this imprint at the scene show traces of blood on his face and on the street outside.
Bentley was later arrested by police.
Police initially charged him with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, but on Monday the court heard those charges were withdrawn and replaced with two charges of common assault.
He is scheduled to be sentenced June 15. The legal team’s plans include a small package, including reference letters and medical documents.
Abnormal AI, a Las Vegas-based start-up that uses artificial intelligence software to protect against cyber attacks, was founded in 2018. In its 2024 funding round, Abnormal raised US$250 million from investors and was valued at US$5.1 billion.
Among other services, Abnormal provides tools to prevent “fallible” people from falling for phishing emails, in which cybercriminals try to trick staff at a company into revealing sensitive information by spoofing correspondence from colleagues or professional acquaintances.
British-born Bentley launched Abnormal in the Asia-Pacific region in 2021.
According to Abnormal’s website, he founded email security company MessageLabs in 2003, which was later acquired by cybersecurity company Symantec. He then moved on to Abnormal Security, known as Abnormal Artificial Intelligence.
Abnormal and Bentley did not respond to requests for comment. Bentley’s role at Abnormal is still listed on the company’s website and LinkedIn account.
The Grand Union’s guitarist Rohin Sharma said that he and his friends were not surprised to learn of the criminal complaint, but were disappointed that the charges were dropped, “especially considering that two people were hospitalized as a result of the attack and continue to be affected by it.”
“It’s quite ironic that his employer claims to be protecting people from crime,” said Sharma.
The Business Briefing newsletter delivers big stories, exclusive news and expert insights. Sign up to receive it every weekday morning.
Elias Visontay is the National Consumer Affairs Reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.Connect via email.
Kishor Napier-Raman is senior business writer for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. He previously worked as a CBD columnist and reporter in the federal parliament press gallery.Connect with: X or email.
