Former Kiama MP and convicted rapist Gareth Ward will spend at least three years and nine months behind bars following his conviction of historic sexual abuse crimes.
The ex MP, elevated to minister for families, communities and disability services during his term, has spent more than three months behind bars after he was taken into custody on remand in July following his conviction of historic sexual abuse crimes.
Following a lengthy trial in the Darlinghurst District Court, he was found guilty by a jury of three counts of indecent assault and a fourth count of intercourse without consent.
Ward appeared via AVL from custody before Judge Kara Shead SC in Parramatta District Court on Friday morning to learn his sentence for the crimes.
Justice Shead sentenced the 44-year-old to five years and nine months in prison, with a non-parole period of three years and nine months.
In her sentencing, Judge Shead described Ward’s behaviour during the sexual assault as “callous and predatory”.
He will be eligible for parole in April 2029.
The guilty verdicts relate to acts against two young men – an 18-year-old at Meroo Meadow in 2013 and a 24-year-old man in Potts Point in 2015 – and sparked calls for the independent south coast MP to resign from parliament.
For the charges, Ward is facing a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment for indecent assault, and 14 years imprisonment for sexual intercourse without consent.
Ward was set to be sentenced for the crimes on Wednesday, however, in an 11th hour bid Judge Shead was told by Ward’s solicitor that an application applied to his sentencing, but that he was “not in a position” to argue it that day.
This was opposed by Crown prosecutor Monika Knowles.
The application was under Section 21B of the Crimes Sentencing Procedure Act 1999 in NSW, which requires courts to sentence offenders based on the sentencing patterns and practices at the time of sentencing.
Beginning his political career in 2011, Ward became a Liberal member for Kiama in 2011, a seat he held until his guilty verdict.
Ward later resigned in August just hours before a motion to expel him was expected to go before the Legislative Assembly.
The motion came after a challenge by Ward’s lawyers about the expulsion from parliament to the Court of Appeal failed.
Historical sexual abuse
The court was told during Ward’s lengthy trial at the Darlinghurst District Court that in 2013 he had invited the then 18-year-old to his Meroo Meadow home, where he “encouraged” the young man to drink.
On the grass outside, put both hands on him, then without warning put his hand down the man’s pants and touched his buttocks.
The man says he “froze” as the politician moved his hand to the then teenager’s genital area.
The pair then went inside, with Ward directing the man towards his bedroom, telling him it wasn’t safe to sleep alone.
The man then laid face down on the bed, before Ward “mounted” him and sat on his buttocks, then started to massage his back, the victim told the court.
Two years later, in 2015, Ward and a political staffer, had attended an event at NSW Parliament House before heading back to Ward’s Potts Point apartment.
There, Ward climbed into bed with the man and put his hands on the young man’s buttocks, and sexually assaulted him despite him repeatedly being asked to stop.
Ward’s last-minute resignation triggered a contentious by-election in Kiama in September, with Labor claiming victory.
