Previous Down Under Public Figure Sentenced for Over 60 Months for Criminal Acts
An ex- public official found guilty of assaulting two young men connected through work was given to 69 months in detention.
Legal Proceedings
Gareth Ward, mid-forties, remained in prison since last summer after the court determined his guilt of attacking one man and sexually abusing a second person, in separate incidents in 2013 and 2015.
The politician served the oceanfront municipality of the district in the NSW legislature from 2011. He stepped down as a government official when accusations emerged in recent years but resisted resigning from the legislature and won again in 2023.
Court Ruling
Justice Kara Shead considered the defendant's condition of legal blindness in the judgment and concluded "no other penalty other than incarceration is appropriate".
The convicted individual, who participated via remote connection at Parramatta District Court, will complete at no less than nearly four years in custody before he can request parole.
The court official stated the court needs to "send a stern message to like-minded offenders that criminal acts like these will be subject to salutary penalties".
Further Details
She also said Ward had "escaped justice for ten years and enjoyed a life without a rehabilitation program or penalty for his crimes during that time".
Following the verdict, the politician launched a failed legal bid to stay in his position and left office moments before the members could oust him.
His legal team has indicated before he aims to contest the guilty verdict.
Incident Details
His extended court case in the judicial venue heard that he asked a inebriated teenager to his residence in 2013 and attacked him three times, despite the victim's efforts to oppose.
In 2015, he raped a mid-twenties political staffer at his residence after an event at government offices.
Ward had claimed the 2015 rape didn't happen, and that the additional accuser was confused about their meeting from the earlier year.
The state's attorneys contended that striking similarities in the testimonies of the individuals, who had no connection to one another, showed they were being honest.
The panel considered for 72 hours before announcing the convictions.
The political exit led to a replacement vote in the district in autumn, which was claimed by the opposition party.
