Former Down Under Politician Jailed for Above Five Years for Sex Crimes
One-time public official sentenced of attacking two victims he met through work received a sentence to nearly six years in detention.
Trial Information
Gareth Ward, mid-forties, has been in custody since July after judicial panel convicted him of attacking one man and sexually abusing another individual, in separate incidents in 2013 then 2015.
The defendant acted for the coastal town of Kiama in the New South Wales government from 2011. He resigned as a political party minister when the claims came to light in 2021 but resisted resigning from his seat and won again in 2023.
Sentencing Details
Judge Kara Shead took into account his visual impairment of sight disability in the ruling and concluded "no other penalty other than imprisonment would be suitable".
The convicted individual, who participated via remote connection at the courthouse, will undergo at least three years and nine months in custody before he can request conditional freedom.
The court official said the judicial system needs to "send a stern message to potential criminals that criminal acts such as this will be met with significant consequences".
Additional Information
She also said the convicted man had "avoided punishment for a decade and experienced freedom free from a treatment or penalty for the offenses during those years".
Post-trial, Ward attempted a unsuccessful appeal attempt to remain in parliament and left office shortly before the legislature could oust him.
His legal team has previously said he plans to appeal the conviction.
Trial Evidence
Ward's extended court case in the judicial venue learned that he asked a drunk young adult to his residence in the first incident and indecently assaulted him repeatedly, despite the victim's efforts to fight back.
Two years later, he raped a mid-twenties government employee at his residence after a gathering at government offices.
Ward had claimed the second incident was fabricated, and that the first victim was misremembering their interaction from 2013.
However, prosecutors contended that striking similarities in the testimonies of the individuals, who did not know the other, showed they were being honest.
Court members deliberated for multiple days before returning the guilty verdicts.
Ward's resignation led to a by-election in the district in last fall, which was claimed by the Labor candidate.
