Former Down Under Politician Jailed for More Than 60 Months for Criminal Acts
One-time Australian politician convicted of attacking two victims he met through professional activities has been sentenced to nearly six years in prison.
Legal Proceedings
Gareth Ward, forty-four, has been in prison since mid-year after judicial panel convicted him of sexually assaulting a victim and attacking another, in separate incidents in over two years.
Ward served the coastal town of the district in the NSW parliament from 2011. He resigned as a political party minister when the claims surfaced in 2021 but refused to quit the legislature and was re-elected in 2023.
Court Ruling
The presiding officer the judicial figure took into account Ward's disability of sight disability in the judgment and determined "no other penalty except for imprisonment is appropriate".
The defendant, who participated via digital means at the judicial venue, will serve at no less than three years and nine months in detention before he can apply for conditional freedom.
The court official said the court needs to "send a stern message to similar individuals that sexual offendings of this nature will be met with significant consequences".
Further Details
Additionally stated the defendant had "avoided punishment for ten years and enjoyed a life free from a rehabilitation program or punishment for the offenses during that period".
After his conviction, the individual launched a failed legal bid to stay in government and resigned moments before the legislature could oust him.
His legal team has indicated before he intends to appeal the guilty verdict.
Trial Evidence
Ward's lengthy proceedings in the judicial venue was told that he invited a inebriated young adult to his property in 2013 and sexually abused him three times, despite his attempts to resist.
Two years later, he attacked a young political staffer at his home after a function at government offices.
The defendant had claimed the 2015 rape never occurred, and that the additional accuser was inaccurate regarding their encounter from the earlier year.
But the prosecution maintained that significant resemblances in the statements of the victims, who had no connection to each other, demonstrated they were telling the truth.
Court members considered for three days before returning the findings of guilt.
The political exit prompted a replacement vote in the district in autumn, which was secured by the Labor candidate.
