Previous Down Under Public Figure Sentenced for Above Five Years for Sex Crimes
One-time Australian politician convicted of attacking two young men he met through professional activities received a sentence to five years and nine months in prison.
Case Details
Gareth Ward, 44, was in jail since last summer after judicial panel determined his guilt of attacking a victim and sexually abusing another individual, in separate incidents in over two years.
The defendant acted for the oceanfront municipality of Kiama in the New South Wales parliament from over a decade ago. He left his position as a political party cabinet member when accusations came to light in 2021 but resisted resigning from the legislature and was re-elected in last year.
Judgment Information
The presiding officer the court official evaluated the defendant's condition of legal blindness in her sentence and found "no different consequence other than detention would be suitable".
Ward, who appeared via remote connection at the judicial venue, will serve at least 45 months in detention before he can request early release.
The court official said the judicial system needs to "issue a clear statement to potential criminals that sexual offendings such as this will be subject to salutary penalties".
Case Background
She also said Ward had "avoided punishment for multiple years and experienced freedom free from a programme or consequence for his crimes during that time".
Post-trial, the individual launched a failed appeal attempt to remain in government and stepped down just prior to the congress could remove him.
His legal team has indicated before he aims to contest the guilty verdict.
Incident Details
Ward's lengthy proceedings in the judicial venue was told that he asked a inebriated young adult to his residence in 2013 and attacked him three times, despite the victim's efforts to oppose.
Subsequently, he sexually assaulted a mid-twenties government employee at his home after a function at government offices.
Ward had maintained the 2015 rape never occurred, and that the first victim was inaccurate regarding their meeting from the first incident.
However, prosecutors argued that notable parallels in the testimonies of the individuals, who did not know one another, demonstrated they were telling the truth.
A jury considered for three days before announcing the convictions.
His departure led to a replacement vote in his constituency in autumn, which was secured by the opposition party.
