đź”— Share this article Former Down Under Lawmaker Imprisoned for Above 60 Months for Criminal Acts Gareth Ward has been sentenced for 69 months for the sexual abuse of two men An ex- Australian politician sentenced of assaulting two individuals he met through his position has been sentenced to five years and nine months in prison. Legal Proceedings The defendant, mid-forties, was in jail since mid-year after judicial panel determined his guilt of attacking an individual and sexually abusing a second person, in separate incidents in over two years. Ward acted for the coastal town of the regional area in the New South Wales parliament from 2011. He resigned as a government minister when allegations surfaced in 2021 but resisted resigning from the legislature and was re-elected in 2023. Court Ruling The presiding officer the judicial figure took into account his visual impairment of sight disability in her sentence and found "no different consequence besides incarceration would be suitable". The defendant, who participated via video-link at the judicial venue, will serve at no less than nearly four years in custody before he can seek conditional freedom. The judge declared the judicial system needs to "send a stern message to potential criminals that illegal behaviors such as this will be met with salutary penalties". Additional Information She also said the convicted man had "evaded consequences for multiple years and lived freely absent a treatment or penalty for the offenses during that period". Following the verdict, Ward initiated a failed court challenge to continue in government and stepped down shortly before the congress could remove him. Representatives has previously said he intends to challenge the conviction. Incident Details Ward's nine-week trial in the NSW District Court learned that he asked a inebriated 18-year-old man to his property in 2013 and attacked him three times, despite the victim's efforts to oppose. Subsequently, he sexually assaulted a mid-twenties office worker at his residence after a function at government offices. The defendant had maintained the second incident was fabricated, and that the first victim was misremembering their encounter from 2013. However, prosecutors contended that significant resemblances in the testimonies of the two men, who were unacquainted with one another, demonstrated they were accurate in their accounts. Court members debated for three days before announcing the convictions. Ward's resignation prompted a special election in Kiama in last fall, which was claimed by the opposition party.