Ex- Down Under Politician Imprisoned for Above Five Years for Sex Crimes

A former Australian politician sentenced of attacking two victims he met through professional activities was given to five years and nine months in detention.

Trial Information

Gareth Ward, mid-forties, was in custody since July after judicial panel convicted him of raping an individual and sexually abusing another individual, in separate incidents in 2013 and 2015.

The politician represented the oceanfront municipality of Kiama in the state legislature from the year 2011. He left his position as a political party cabinet member when the claims surfaced in 2021 but declined to leave parliament and was re-elected in last year.

Court Ruling

Judge Kara Shead took into account the defendant's condition of legal blindness in the judgment and concluded "no other penalty other than imprisonment could be considered".

The defendant, who was present via remote connection at Parramatta District Court, will undergo at least 45 months in custody before he can seek parole.

Justice Shead declared the legal system needs to "issue a clear statement to potential criminals that illegal behaviors of this nature will be faced with significant consequences".

Further Details

She also said Ward had "avoided punishment for ten years and lived freely free from a rehabilitation program or punishment for his actions during that time".

After his conviction, Ward initiated a rejected legal bid to stay in parliament and resigned just prior to the members could remove him.

His legal team has stated earlier he intends to contest the conviction.

Trial Evidence

His lengthy proceedings in the NSW District Court heard that he brought a inebriated 18-year-old man to his home in 2013 and indecently assaulted him repeatedly, despite his attempts to fight back.

In 2015, he raped a young political staffer at his home after an event at government offices.

The defendant had claimed the later assault never occurred, and that the additional accuser was confused about their interaction from the earlier year.

But the prosecution argued that striking similarities in the accounts of the individuals, who were unacquainted with each other, showed they were telling the truth.

The panel debated for multiple days before announcing the findings of guilt.

The political exit prompted a by-election in Kiama in September, which was claimed by the Labor candidate.