Convicted rapist and former MP Gareth Ward facing prospect of years in custody

Gareth Ward, former infamous independent deputy, made headlines for his local community in the last decade.

Now, cuffs tell a very different story.

Ward, who started his political career in 2011, became a liberal member for Kiama and sat down before moving to Crossbench in 2021 and was re -elected independently despite the allegations of sexual assault.

However, in August, two young men were convicted of sexual harassment.

The 44 -year -old was found guilty by a fourth number of relations without three immoral attacks and consent.

In 2013, he was convicted of the attack of two young men, a 18 -year -old man in Meroo Meadow and a 24 -year -old man in Potts Point in 2015.

Ward resigned in August this year and was expected to go before the legislative Assembly to expel him.

The movement came after Ward’s lawyers challenging the appeal court.

Loved ones are talking

From a young age, Ward had a “happy nature ,, and his mother wrote a heartfelt letter to court.

However, ocular Kutanöz said that he had growing difficulties due to albinism and that doctors declared that he was legally blind.

Although he struggles with bullying at school while he is growing up, his mother says that his son may have a very positive/ attitude and happy personality ”.

“He has always been a kind person and never showed violence or aggressive behavior,” he said.

“He poured his heart to work.”

The new South Wales Local Government Minister Shelley Hancock reiterated this idea and described his ex -colleague as “passionate” and “determined”.

“I have witnessed the first -hand relations with both young and old, people with the people, and I witnessed a good interaction with hundreds of polite and hundreds of people,” he said to the court.

The sacrifice was ‘perili’

However, the troubled letters from Ward’s victims to the court paint the former politician in a very different light.

In the expression of emotional victim effect, one of the 18 -year -olds during the attack said he had serious mental health problems, including major depression and suicide thought.

“I think the attack and the path I feel should be divided into sections causes significant trauma,” he said in a letter to the court.

Orum I often have dreams and feedback for the night of the attack.

“I tell myself not to go to my house or bedroom in these dreams. But I can’t change the course.”

The man explained that he was constantly “perili ıyla with the fact that he went to sleep next to Ward after the attack.

Im I was attacked by someone I trust, then unconsciously with him for a few hours, ”he said.

He said that the attack and everything that follows “deeply changed the life of the victim.

“The cost of this experience and the side effect of the power I was forced to build, a numbness, the equipment of my ability to fully experience and enjoy the positive things in life,” he said.

Another letter from the other victim to the court – a 24 -year -old political employee during the attack – he said he had a dream of working in politics and returning to his community from a young age.

This dream is no longer possible, dedi he said.

The man said that he was raped by a politician and was entrusted to protect our most vulnerable, ”he left him isolated, confused and scary.

‘A tremendous decline from Grace’

Ward was detained through AVL before the judge Kara Shead SC on Friday, on Friday, wore prison greenery and took notes during the penalty applications.

In his duties, the Crown prosecutor Monika Knowles told the court that Ward had a “insistence ında in his crime, appeared in his“ steering wheel ve into the bedroom of the 18 -year -old child and encouraged him to drink before the attack.

Ms. Knowles said that the 18 -year -old child was a “safety deficit ve and that the 24 -year -old political employees was“ senior position ”.

“There is an imbalance of power between them,” he said.

Meanwhile, defense lawyer David Campbell SC said that Ward has been exposed to very public opinion since the first public announcement of the claims.

“He experienced an enormous decline from Grace… and he no longer has his position.”

“The office is gone… The task that he has worked hard for many years to continue a legal career… He went… and was taken into custody.”

Ward also lost his position and said he was fired from the Liberal Party when he was accused.

“At that time there was a tremendous amount of publicity… And the very negative promotion produced since his conviction,” he said.

Mr. Campbell SC also reminded the court that Ward had never had a criminal conviction and served his local community for years throughout his career.

“It is not a matter of discussion that Ward has given a great debate to the community as a voter member, but also in the voluntary service to the local community,” he said.

Defense also said that Ward would have a hard time in custody due to albinism.

Campbell said Ward works at a very high level with low value, but requires significant technological support and visual assistance.

His doctor said that Ward’s vision made him “making him extremely vulnerable in a non -familiar and challenging environment and that he would be at the risk of falling, confusion and orientation disorder.

Historical Sexual Abuse

The court invited the 18 -year -old child to his home in 2013 during his long trial at the Darlinghurst Regional Court of Darlinghurst, and he was told that he “encouraged” to drink the young man.

On the grass outside, put both hands on him, then he put his hand down without warning and touched his hips.

The man says he was “freezing iyle as he moves his hand to the genital area at that time.

There, Ward climbed the bed with the man and put his hands on the young man’s hips and was sexually assaulted, although he was asked to stop again and again.

Two years later, in 2015, Ward and a political personnel attended an event at the NSW Parliament House before returning to Ward’s Potts Point apartment.

There Ward climbed to bed with a 24 -year -old boy at that time and put his hands on the young man’s hips and was sexually assaulted, although he was asked to stop again and again.

Ward for the accusations faces a maximum of five years imprisonment for an inappropriate attack and for sexual intercourse without consent and 14 years of imprisonment for sexual intercourse.

Ward’s last -minute resignation triggered a contentious election in Kiama last weekend and claimed the victory of Labour.

Meanwhile, Ward’s house in Meroo Meadows north of Bomaderry was offered for sale last month and is currently sitting empty.

The issue will return to court in October.