Previous Australian Politician Sentenced for Over 60 Months for Sexual Offenses

An ex- Australian politician convicted of sexually abusing two individuals encountered via his position received a sentence to five years and nine months in prison.

Legal Proceedings

Gareth Ward, 44, has been in jail since July after the court found him guilty of raping one man and sexually abusing another individual, in separate incidents in 2013 then 2015.

Ward served the coastal town of the district in the New South Wales government from over a decade ago. He left his position as a government minister when the claims came to light in 2021 but refused to quit the legislature and returned to office in 2023.

Court Ruling

Justice the court official considered his visual impairment of sight disability in the judgment and found "no alternative punishment except for incarceration is appropriate".

The convicted individual, who was present via remote connection at the judicial venue, will serve at no less than three years and nine months in prison before he can seek parole.

The court official stated the court needs to "deliver a strong warning to like-minded offenders that criminal acts like these will be met with serious punishments".

Further Details

She also said the convicted man had "escaped justice for multiple years and experienced freedom without a rehabilitation program or consequence for his crimes during those years".

Following the verdict, the individual launched a failed court challenge to stay in parliament and stepped down moments before the congress could remove him.

Defense attorneys has indicated before he plans to appeal the ruling.

Trial Evidence

Ward's lengthy proceedings in the judicial venue heard that he brought a intoxicated 18-year-old man to his property in 2013 and indecently assaulted him repeatedly, despite resistance attempts to resist.

Subsequently, he attacked a young office worker at his residence after a gathering at the legislature.

Ward had claimed the 2015 rape was fabricated, and that the additional accuser was confused about their encounter from 2013.

The state's attorneys argued that striking similarities in the accounts of the individuals, who were unacquainted with each other, proved they were being honest.

Court members deliberated for 72 hours before delivering the guilty verdicts.

His departure prompted a replacement vote in the district in September, which was claimed by the Labor candidate.