Former Australian politician Gareth Ward has been jailed for five years and nine months for sexually abusing two young men. The 44-year-old was convicted in July of raping one man and assaulting another in separate attacks that happened years ago.
In 2011, Ward began representing Kiama, a coastal town in New South Wales, in parliament; he was a minister in the Liberal Party until the accusations came to light in 2021. He refused to quit parliament even then. This is despite voters reelecting him in 2023 while charges were still hanging over him.
Judge Says Prison Is the Only Option
Judge Kara Shead handed down the sentence at Parramatta District Court on Friday. Ward appeared through a video link from prison, where he has been since conviction. The judge noted that Ward is legally blind but said this did not change a thing about what he did. She made it clear that prison time was the only right punishment.
He will have to serve at least three years and nine months before he can apply for parole. Judge Shead said the court needs to send a strong warning to others who might commit similar crimes. She called Ward’s actions “callous and predatory.” Furthermore, the judge mentioned that Ward managed to avoid punishment for ten years. All this time, he lived a normal life without any kind of punishment.
What Happened to the Victims
The nine-week trial heard harrowing testimony of an attack in 2013, in which Ward invited a drunk 18-year-old man to his house and assaulted him three times. The young man tried to fight him off but was unable to. In 2015, two years later, Ward raped a 24-year-old man who worked in politics. The incident occurred at Ward’s home after an event from the government.
Both victims testified in court about how the abuse affected their lives. The younger of the two men said he turned to drugs and alcohol to cope with what happened. He still suffers from flashbacks. The older victim also started drinking heavily and said his dream of working in politics was destroyed.
Ward Denies Everything
Through the trial, Ward maintained that he was innocent. He said the 2015 rape never happened. He said the first victim was remembering things wrong about what took place in 2013.
But prosecutors asked the jury to focus on how similar the two stories were. The two men did not know each other, yet described remarkably similar experiences. After three days of deliberation, the jury found Ward guilty. His lawyers tried to keep him in parliament after the conviction, but that didn’t work. He resigned just before other members were about to vote him out. His lawyers say he will appeal the guilty verdict.
Judge Shead said Friday that Ward hasn’t shown any remorse now because he still maintains that he’s innocent of the crime. She told him, however, that he was in a good position to rehabilitate himself. In September, a special election was held in Kiama following Ward’s resignation; a Labor Party candidate won his seat.
News At Glance
- Gareth Ward sentenced to five years and nine months for rape and indecent assault
- Attacked two men in 2013 and 2015 when he was a serving NSW politician.
- Must serve minimum three years nine months before parole eligibility
- Judge labeled his actions “callous and predatory” and rejected disability as an excuse
- Both victims described turning to drugs and alcohol after the assaults
FAQs
Q: Who is Gareth Ward?
A: He is a former politician who represented Kiama in the New South Wales parliament from 2011; he served as a Liberal Party minister until 2021.
Q: What crimes did he commit?
A: In 2015, he raped a 24-year-old political worker and indecently assaulted an 18-year-old man in 2013. Both the attacks took place at his house.
Q: How long will he be in prison?
A: Overall, he got five years and nine months. He will have to serve at least three years and nine months before he will be eligible for parole.
Q: Has he owned up to it?
A: No, Ward has always stated he is innocent, and now he will appeal the guilty verdict.
Q: What happened to his political career?
A: He stepped down as minister in 2021 but remained in parliament until July 2024. He resigned just before the other members could oust him after his conviction.
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