Ex- Down Under Public Figure Imprisoned for More Than Half a Decade for Sexual Offenses
A former lawmaker convicted of attacking two individuals connected through work has been sentenced to 69 months in detention.
Legal Proceedings
Gareth Ward, mid-forties, was in custody since July after a jury found him guilty of raping a victim and indecently assaulting another individual, in separate incidents in 2013 and 2015.
The defendant served the seaside community of the district in the NSW government from over a decade ago. He left his position as a political party cabinet member when accusations surfaced in 2021 but resisted resigning from the legislature and won again in 2023.
Court Ruling
Judge the judicial figure evaluated the defendant's condition of legal blindness in the judgment and determined "no alternative punishment other than detention is appropriate".
The convicted individual, who participated via remote connection at the courthouse, will undergo at minimum nearly four years in custody before he can seek early release.
The judge said the legal system needs to "send a stern message to similar individuals that criminal acts like these will be subject to serious punishments".
Case Background
Additionally stated the convicted man had "avoided punishment for ten years and lived freely without a treatment or consequence for his actions during that period".
After his conviction, Ward launched a unsuccessful appeal attempt to stay in his position and resigned shortly before the members could remove him.
Representatives has previously said he aims to appeal the conviction.
Case Facts
The defendant's nine-week trial in the state court learned that he invited a inebriated teenager to his residence in 2013 and attacked him on multiple occasions, despite resistance attempts to oppose.
In 2015, he raped a young government employee at his home after an event at government offices.
He had argued the second incident was fabricated, and that the other complainant was misremembering their interaction from the first incident.
However, prosecutors argued that notable parallels in the testimonies of the individuals, who were unacquainted with one another, showed they were being honest.
A jury deliberated for 72 hours before returning the guilty verdicts.
Ward's resignation led to a replacement vote in the district in September, which was secured by the Labor candidate.
