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A former Australian politician sentenced of sexually abusing two victims encountered via work was given to nearly six years in jail.

Legal Proceedings

Gareth Ward, mid-forties, remained in jail since July after a jury determined his guilt of sexually assaulting a victim and sexually abusing a second person, in multiple events in 2013 then 2015.

Ward served the oceanfront municipality of Kiama in the state parliament from over a decade ago. He resigned as a Liberal Party minister when accusations surfaced in 2021 but refused to quit the legislature and won again in 2023.

Sentencing Details

Judge the court official considered his visual impairment of vision impairment in her sentence and concluded "no different consequence except for incarceration could be considered".

The defendant, who was present via digital means at Parramatta District Court, will complete at no less than 45 months in detention before he can apply for early release.

The court official said the judicial system needs to "send a stern message to potential criminals that illegal behaviors such as this will be faced with salutary penalties".

Further Details

She also said the defendant had "escaped justice for ten years and enjoyed a life free from a treatment or consequence for the offenses during those years".

Post-trial, the politician initiated a failed court challenge to remain in his position and resigned moments before the members could remove him.

Representatives has previously said he aims to appeal the guilty verdict.

Trial Evidence

Ward's lengthy proceedings in the NSW District Court was told that he asked a drunk young adult to his residence in the first incident and sexually abused him repeatedly, despite resistance attempts to fight back.

Subsequently, he attacked a mid-twenties government employee at his home after an event at parliament.

Ward had claimed the later assault didn't happen, and that the additional accuser was misremembering their meeting from the first incident.

But the prosecution contended that significant resemblances in the accounts of the individuals, who had no connection to one another, showed they were telling the truth.

A jury considered for multiple days before returning the convictions.

Ward's resignation prompted a replacement vote in Kiama in autumn, which was secured by the Labor candidate.