Ex- Australian Politician Jailed for Over Five Years for Sexual Offenses
An ex- lawmaker found guilty of attacking two victims connected through his position was given to 69 months in detention.
Legal Proceedings
Gareth Ward, mid-forties, was in jail since July after judicial panel determined his guilt of sexually assaulting a victim and sexually abusing another, in different occasions in 2013 and 2015.
The defendant represented the coastal town of the regional area in the NSW legislature from the year 2011. He left his position as a Liberal Party cabinet member when accusations emerged in 2021 but resisted resigning from parliament and won again in last year.
Judgment Information
Judge the court official took into account Ward's disability of vision impairment in the ruling and concluded "no alternative punishment other than incarceration would be suitable".
The convicted individual, who appeared via remote connection at Parramatta District Court, will serve at minimum nearly four years in custody before he can apply for conditional freedom.
Justice Shead declared the judicial system needs to "issue a clear statement to like-minded offenders that criminal acts like these will be subject to salutary penalties".
Further Details
She also said the defendant had "escaped justice for ten years and experienced freedom free from a rehabilitation program or consequence for his crimes during that time".
After his conviction, Ward initiated a unsuccessful appeal attempt to stay in government and resigned shortly before the legislature could remove him.
His legal team has previously said he aims to challenge the ruling.
Trial Evidence
His extended court case in the judicial venue learned that he asked a drunk young adult to his property in 2013 and attacked him repeatedly, despite the victim's efforts to oppose.
Two years later, he sexually assaulted a young government employee at his property after a gathering at the legislature.
He had claimed the 2015 rape didn't happen, and that the other complainant was confused about their meeting from the earlier year.
But the prosecution argued that notable parallels in the accounts of the two men, who were unacquainted with one another, showed they were telling the truth.
The panel debated for 72 hours before announcing the convictions.
Ward's resignation prompted a by-election in the district in autumn, which was claimed by the Labor candidate.
