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A former Australian politician convicted of sexually abusing two young men connected through his position has been sentenced to 69 months in detention.

Trial Information

Gareth Ward, 44, has been in jail since last summer after judicial panel determined his guilt of sexually assaulting an individual and indecently assaulting another, in separate incidents in 2013 and 2015.

The politician acted for the oceanfront municipality of the district in the NSW parliament from the year 2011. He left his position as a Liberal Party cabinet member when accusations came to light in 2021 but refused to quit his seat and returned to office in 2023.

Sentencing Details

The presiding officer the judicial figure evaluated his visual impairment of legal blindness in her sentence and determined "no different consequence other than incarceration could be considered".

The defendant, who appeared via remote connection at the courthouse, will serve at minimum nearly four years in detention before he can request conditional freedom.

The court official stated the court needs to "deliver a strong warning to like-minded offenders that sexual offendings such as this will be subject to significant consequences".

Case Background

The judge added Ward had "avoided punishment for multiple years and lived freely without a programme or penalty for his crimes during that time".

Post-trial, Ward attempted a failed appeal attempt to remain in his position and stepped down just prior to the members could remove him.

His legal team has previously said he plans to challenge the ruling.

Incident Details

The defendant's extended court case in the NSW District Court learned that he asked a drunk 18-year-old man to his property in the first incident and indecently assaulted him on multiple occasions, despite the victim's efforts to resist.

Two years later, he sexually assaulted a mid-twenties government employee at his residence after a function at parliament.

Ward had claimed the later assault didn't happen, and that the first victim was confused about their encounter from the earlier year.

But the prosecution contended that significant resemblances in the statements of the two men, who did not know one another, proved they were telling the truth.

The panel deliberated for three days before returning the findings of guilt.

The political exit led to a by-election in his constituency in last fall, which was won by the Labor candidate.