Former Australian Lawmaker Imprisoned for Over Five Years for Criminal Acts
An ex- Australian politician convicted of assaulting two individuals he met through work was given to five years and nine months in prison.
Trial Information
Gareth Ward, 44, remained in prison since last summer after the court found him guilty of raping one man and sexually abusing another individual, in different occasions in 2013 and 2015.
Ward represented the seaside community of the regional area in the New South Wales parliament from over a decade ago. He stepped down as a government official when allegations came to light in 2021 but declined to leave the legislature and won again in 2023.
Court Ruling
Justice Kara Shead considered the defendant's condition of legal blindness in the judgment and found "no different consequence except for detention would be suitable".
The defendant, who was present via digital means at the courthouse, will undergo at least 45 months in detention before he can request conditional freedom.
The court official stated the court needs to "send a stern message to potential criminals that illegal behaviors like these will be met with serious punishments".
Additional Information
She also said the convicted man had "avoided punishment for a decade and enjoyed a life without a programme or consequence for his crimes during those years".
After his conviction, the politician attempted a rejected legal bid to continue in parliament and resigned moments before the congress could expel him.
His legal team has stated earlier he plans to appeal the guilty verdict.
Incident Details
His lengthy proceedings in the state court was told that he brought a inebriated young adult to his property in 2013 and indecently assaulted him repeatedly, despite resistance attempts to fight back.
Two years later, he sexually assaulted a young political staffer at his residence after an event at the legislature.
The defendant had maintained the later assault didn't happen, and that the additional accuser was confused about their interaction from the first incident.
However, prosecutors argued that notable parallels in the statements of the individuals, who had no connection to the other, demonstrated they were being honest.
The panel considered for multiple days before returning the guilty verdicts.
His departure prompted a by-election in his constituency in last fall, which was secured by the challenger.
