Former Down Under Public Figure Imprisoned for More Than Half a Decade for Sexual Offenses
A former public official sentenced of assaulting two victims connected through work received a sentence to nearly six years in detention.
Case Details
Gareth Ward, mid-forties, was in prison since mid-year after a jury determined his guilt of attacking one man and attacking a second person, in multiple events in 2013 then 2015.
The defendant served the coastal town of the district in the state legislature from over a decade ago. He resigned as a Liberal Party cabinet member when allegations surfaced in 2021 but resisted resigning from parliament and won again in 2023.
Court Ruling
Justice Kara Shead evaluated Ward's disability of sight disability in the judgment and concluded "no alternative punishment other than imprisonment is appropriate".
Ward, who participated via video-link at the judicial venue, will complete at no less than 45 months in custody before he can request conditional freedom.
The court official declared the judicial system needs to "deliver a strong warning to like-minded offenders that criminal acts of this nature will be faced with significant consequences".
Case Background
She also said the convicted man had "avoided punishment for a decade and experienced freedom free from a programme or penalty for his actions during that time".
After his conviction, the individual initiated a unsuccessful appeal attempt to stay in his position and resigned moments before the members could expel him.
Defense attorneys has previously said he intends to challenge the ruling.
Case Facts
Ward's lengthy proceedings in the NSW District Court heard that he brought a drunk 18-year-old man to his home in 2013 and attacked him on multiple occasions, despite his attempts to resist.
In 2015, he raped a 24-year-old government employee at his home after a function at the legislature.
Ward had argued the later assault didn't happen, and that the first victim was misremembering their interaction from the earlier year.
The state's attorneys argued that significant resemblances in the accounts of the victims, who were unacquainted with each other, proved they were telling the truth.
A jury deliberated for three days before returning the findings of guilt.
Ward's resignation prompted a special election in the district in September, which was claimed by the Labor candidate.