Former AI exec convicted after drunken pub gig punch-up

The former vice president of sales for Asia Pacific at tech behemoth Abnormal AI pleaded guilty to punching two musicians at the Ramblin' Rascal Tavern in the city centre in February.

He socked The Grand Union guitarist Stu Greenwood in the face after having had several drinks, according to the agreed facts.

When another musician, John Flaws of Bloody Legend, tried to intervene and stop the fracas, he copped a punch from Bentley directly on his mouth, the court was told.

Bentley's barrister Tim Lowe attempted to convince the judge his client losing his high-profile job and receiving anger management counselling was punishment enough for his one-off lapse in judgment.

"There is an immediate recognition of my client's wrongdoing ... he went to a GP and got a referral for assistance and counselling, and began the journey to self improvement from the very beginning," Mr Lowe said.

"He is sincerely remorseful ... and ashamed by what has happened here."

Ultimately, the seriousness of the violence was too much for Deputy Chief Judge Michael Antrum to consider letting the former tech executive off the hook.

He said allowing Bentley to escape conviction would send the wrong message about the scourge of alcohol-fuelled violence.

"This is not just a push, this is not just a mere grapple, this is two distinct strikes to the head," the judge said.

"The community will not accept … this kind of drunken violence in licensed premises when people are just trying to go out and have a good time."

Abnormal AI's website still lists Bentley as an employee and says he launched its operations in the Asia Pacific region in 2021.

The company provides security services to a quarter of the Fortune 500, representing some of the largest companies in the world.

Creating tools to stop employees falling for phishing emails is one of the services provided by the company.

Alongside his convictions, Bentley was ordered to pay $3000 in fines for the two common assaults.