Former Down Under Politician Imprisoned for Over 60 Months for Criminal Acts
An ex- Australian politician found guilty of sexually abusing two victims he met through his position has been sentenced to nearly six years in prison.
Trial Information
Gareth Ward, 44, has been in prison since mid-year after a jury convicted him of attacking a victim and attacking another, in separate incidents in 2013 and 2015.
The defendant served the seaside community of the district in the New South Wales parliament from 2011. He resigned as a Liberal Party official when accusations surfaced in 2021 but refused to quit his seat and won again in 2023.
Sentencing Details
Judge the judicial figure evaluated the defendant's condition of vision impairment in her sentence and concluded "no alternative punishment except for detention would be suitable".
The convicted individual, who participated via digital means at Parramatta District Court, will undergo at least three years and nine months in prison before he can request conditional freedom.
The judge said the judicial system needs to "issue a clear statement to potential criminals that criminal acts such as this will be faced with salutary penalties".
Additional Information
She also said the defendant had "avoided punishment for ten years and lived freely free from a treatment or penalty for his actions during that time".
After his conviction, the individual attempted a failed court challenge to stay in his position and stepped down just prior to the members could remove him.
Representatives has stated earlier he intends to contest the conviction.
Trial Evidence
The defendant's nine-week trial in the state court learned that he invited a intoxicated 18-year-old man to his residence in 2013 and attacked him on multiple occasions, despite his attempts to fight back.
Subsequently, he attacked a 24-year-old office worker at his home after a function at the legislature.
The defendant had claimed the 2015 rape didn't happen, and that the first victim was inaccurate regarding their meeting from 2013.
However, prosecutors maintained that striking similarities in the accounts of the two men, who were unacquainted with one another, showed they were telling the truth.
The panel deliberated for 72 hours before delivering the guilty verdicts.
His departure led to a special election in his constituency in September, which was claimed by the challenger.
