Previous Down Under Lawmaker Jailed for Above Five Years for Criminal Acts
One-time lawmaker convicted of assaulting two victims encountered via his position has been sentenced to five years and nine months in jail.
Case Details
Gareth Ward, mid-forties, has been in jail since last summer after the court found him guilty of sexually assaulting an individual and attacking a second person, in different occasions in over two years.
The defendant acted for the seaside community of the district in the NSW government from the year 2011. He left his position as a Liberal Party minister when accusations surfaced in recent years but resisted resigning from the legislature and returned to office in last year.
Court Ruling
Justice Kara Shead evaluated Ward's disability of legal blindness in the judgment and found "no alternative punishment except for incarceration is appropriate".
Ward, who appeared via digital means at the judicial venue, will serve at minimum 45 months in detention before he can request early release.
Justice Shead stated the judicial system needs to "send a stern message to potential criminals that sexual offendings such as this will be subject to significant consequences".
Additional Information
The judge added Ward had "avoided punishment for ten years and lived freely absent a programme or penalty for the offenses during that period".
Following the verdict, the politician attempted a failed legal bid to stay in his position and left office moments before the legislature could remove him.
Defense attorneys has previously said he plans to challenge the ruling.
Trial Evidence
His lengthy proceedings in the judicial venue learned that he asked a drunk 18-year-old man to his residence in 2013 and attacked him three times, despite resistance attempts to oppose.
Subsequently, he sexually assaulted a mid-twenties political staffer at his property after a gathering at parliament.
Ward had argued the 2015 rape never occurred, and that the first victim was confused about their meeting from the earlier year.
However, prosecutors contended that significant resemblances in the testimonies of the individuals, who did not know the other, demonstrated they were being honest.
A jury deliberated for multiple days before delivering the findings of guilt.
The political exit led to a by-election in Kiama in autumn, which was secured by the challenger.
