Ex- Down Under Public Figure Jailed for More Than 60 Months for Sexual Offenses
A former Australian politician found guilty of assaulting two young men encountered via his position received a sentence to 69 months in prison.
Legal Proceedings
Gareth Ward, mid-forties, was in custody since mid-year after the court found him guilty of raping a victim and indecently assaulting another, in separate incidents in 2013 then 2015.
Ward acted for the seaside community of the regional area in the state parliament from over a decade ago. He left his position as a political party official when the claims emerged in recent years but resisted resigning from the legislature and returned to office in 2023.
Sentencing Details
Judge Kara Shead took into account Ward's disability of sight disability in the ruling and found "no alternative punishment besides incarceration would be suitable".
The convicted individual, who was present via remote connection at the judicial venue, will undergo at no less than nearly four years in custody before he can request conditional freedom.
Justice Shead stated the judicial system needs to "issue a clear statement to similar individuals that criminal acts of this nature will be met with serious punishments".
Further Details
Additionally stated the defendant had "avoided punishment for ten years and enjoyed a life without a programme or punishment for his crimes during that time".
Post-trial, Ward launched a rejected appeal attempt to stay in his position and left office moments before the congress could remove him.
Representatives has stated earlier he intends to appeal the guilty verdict.
Case Facts
The defendant's lengthy proceedings in the state court heard that he brought a inebriated teenager to his home in the first incident and indecently assaulted him three times, despite his attempts to oppose.
Subsequently, he sexually assaulted a young government employee 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 misremembering their interaction from the first incident.
But the prosecution maintained that significant resemblances in the statements of the victims, who did not know the other, showed they were telling the truth.
A jury deliberated for three days before announcing the convictions.
The political exit led to a by-election in Kiama in September, which was claimed by the Labor candidate.
