Ex- Down Under Lawmaker Jailed for More Than Five Years for Sex Crimes
A former public official convicted of sexually abusing two individuals encountered via professional activities has been sentenced to 69 months in jail.
Trial Information
Gareth Ward, mid-forties, has been in jail since mid-year after a jury found him guilty of raping a victim and indecently assaulting a second person, in separate incidents in over two years.
Ward served the seaside community of the district in the NSW government from 2011. He left his position as a government cabinet member when allegations came to light in 2021 but declined to leave parliament and returned to office in last year.
Sentencing Details
The presiding officer the judicial figure considered Ward's disability of vision impairment in her sentence and determined "no different consequence except for imprisonment would be suitable".
The convicted individual, who participated via video-link at the judicial venue, will complete at minimum nearly four years in custody before he can seek early release.
The judge stated the court needs to "deliver a strong warning to potential criminals that illegal behaviors like these will be subject to serious punishments".
Case Background
Additionally stated the convicted man had "evaded consequences for multiple years and experienced freedom absent a programme or punishment for his crimes during that time".
After his conviction, Ward launched a failed court challenge to stay in government and stepped down moments before the congress could remove him.
His legal team has indicated before he aims to contest the guilty verdict.
Incident Details
Ward's nine-week trial in the NSW District Court was told that he asked a intoxicated 18-year-old man to his residence in the first incident and indecently assaulted him three times, despite the victim's efforts to oppose.
In 2015, he attacked a young government employee at his residence after an event at the legislature.
Ward had maintained the 2015 rape didn't happen, and that the additional accuser was misremembering their encounter from the first incident.
But the prosecution contended that striking similarities in the statements of the two men, who did not know one another, showed they were accurate in their accounts.
The panel debated for multiple days before delivering the convictions.
His departure led to a by-election in the district in September, which was secured by the challenger.
