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One-time lawmaker found guilty of attacking two individuals connected through professional activities has been sentenced to nearly six years in prison.

Legal Proceedings

Gareth Ward, mid-forties, has been in jail since mid-year after a jury convicted him of sexually assaulting a victim and sexually abusing another individual, in separate incidents in over two years.

The defendant served the oceanfront municipality of the regional area in the NSW legislature from the year 2011. He left his position as a government minister when the claims emerged in 2021 but resisted resigning from the legislature and won again in last year.

Court Ruling

Judge the judicial figure considered his visual impairment of sight disability in the judgment and determined "no different consequence other than imprisonment is appropriate".

The defendant, who participated via digital means at the judicial venue, will undergo at minimum three years and nine months in prison before he can request conditional freedom.

The court official said the court needs to "issue a clear statement to potential criminals that sexual offendings such as this will be faced with serious punishments".

Case Background

She also said the defendant had "avoided punishment for multiple years and enjoyed a life absent a treatment or consequence for the offenses during that period".

Following the verdict, Ward attempted a unsuccessful court challenge to remain in his position and resigned moments before the congress could remove him.

Defense attorneys has indicated before he aims to challenge the guilty verdict.

Incident Details

His nine-week trial in the state court heard that he asked a intoxicated 18-year-old man to his residence in 2013 and attacked him repeatedly, despite the victim's efforts to fight back.

Two years later, he sexually assaulted a 24-year-old government employee at his home after an event at parliament.

The defendant had claimed the second incident never occurred, and that the additional accuser was misremembering their interaction from the first incident.

But the prosecution argued that notable parallels in the statements of the two men, who had no connection to one another, demonstrated they were being honest.

The panel debated for multiple days before delivering the findings of guilt.

The political exit prompted a special election in the district in last fall, which was won by the challenger.