Former Australian Public Figure Imprisoned for More Than Half a Decade for Sex Crimes
A former lawmaker convicted of assaulting two individuals connected through work was given to 69 months in jail.
Case Details
Gareth Ward, mid-forties, remained in prison since July after judicial panel convicted him of attacking an individual and indecently assaulting another, in separate incidents in over two years.
Ward acted for the seaside community of the district in the state government from the year 2011. He stepped down as a Liberal Party official when the claims surfaced in 2021 but resisted resigning from parliament and was re-elected in 2023.
Judgment Information
The presiding officer Kara Shead evaluated the defendant's condition of legal blindness in the ruling and determined "no different consequence except for detention could be considered".
The convicted individual, who participated via digital means at Parramatta District Court, will serve at no less than 45 months in detention before he can request conditional freedom.
Justice Shead stated the legal system needs to "issue a clear statement to similar individuals that sexual offendings such as this will be subject to salutary penalties".
Further Details
The judge added the defendant had "escaped justice for ten years and enjoyed a life free from a treatment or penalty for his crimes during that period".
After his conviction, the politician initiated a unsuccessful court challenge to stay in government and stepped down moments before the legislature could remove him.
Representatives has indicated before he plans to appeal the conviction.
Trial Evidence
Ward's nine-week trial in the state court heard that he asked a inebriated 18-year-old man to his home in 2013 and sexually abused him three times, despite resistance attempts to oppose.
Subsequently, he raped a mid-twenties government employee at his residence after an event at the legislature.
He had argued the second incident was fabricated, and that the other complainant was confused about their encounter from 2013.
However, prosecutors contended that notable parallels in the statements of the two men, who did not know the other, showed they were being honest.
The panel considered for multiple days before announcing the convictions.
Ward's resignation led to a by-election in Kiama in autumn, which was secured by the opposition party.
