Gareth Ward: Rapist former Kiama MP sentenced after sexually assaulting two men
Former NSW families minister Gareth Ward has been sentenced to a minimum of three years and nine months in prison for raping a political staffer and indecently assaulting an 18-year-old man; both were victims he met through his position of authority.
The 44-year-old former Kiama MP was convicted in July of indecently assaulting the teenager three times at his Shoalhaven home in 2013 and sexually assaulting a 24-year-old employee at his Potts Point flat two years later.
The 44-year-old’s actions were “deliberate and predatory”, Judge Kara Shead said during sentencing in the Parramatta District Court in western Sydney on Friday.
The judge said he was aware that the 24-year-old man had expressed lack of consent when he raped one of his victims.
“The offender knew the victim was experiencing discomfort and pain but continued sexual intercourse until she achieved sexual satisfaction,” he told the court.
The judge sentenced the defendant to a maximum prison sentence of five years and nine months.
His non-parole period of three years and nine months will expire on April 29, 2029.
Ward has already spent three months in custody following his conviction by a jury following a nine-week trial and almost three days of deliberations.
He formally resigned from parliament earlier this month from Hunter Prison near Cessnock, hours before MPs were due to vote to expel him.
The then-Liberal MP invited a drunken 18-year-old man to his home on the NSW south coast in February 2013 after hearing the teenager was having problems with his girlfriend.
They continued drinking before the deputy indecently assaulted her outside on the grass and in her bedroom.
While lying on the politician’s bed, the young man said, “No, it’s like I’m going to sleep. Get out.”
Ward replied: “No, relax. You know I’ll give you a massage.”
Two years later Ward sexually assaulted a drunken political staffer in his city center flat following a midweek event at NSW Parliament House.
The man, who was 24 at the time, said Ward got into bed with him, groped his backside and sexually assaulted him despite him repeatedly saying “no”.
He told the jury he was uncomfortable and felt “shattering pain.”
Following reports that police were investigating allegations of sexual offenses in 2021, Ward was sacked as minister for families, communities and disability services and shifted to the crossbench.
His personal vote was so important that he was re-elected as an independent in the 2023 elections, despite the accusations that befell him.
Ward resigned from his post in August, hours before parliament was due to vote on expulsion.
In doing so, he narrowly avoided becoming the fifth person in two centuries to be expelled from the NSW parliament.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Resolution Support Service 1800 211 028
from AAP
