đź”— Share this article Previous Australian Politician Jailed for Above Half a Decade for Sex Crimes The convicted individual was jailed for five years and nine months for sexual assaults of two individuals One-time public official convicted of sexually abusing two individuals he met through his position received a sentence to five years and nine months in detention. Trial Information Gareth Ward, forty-four, has been in prison since July after the court found him guilty of raping one man and indecently assaulting a second person, in separate incidents in 2013 and 2015. Ward acted for the coastal town of the regional area in the NSW legislature from the year 2011. He stepped down as a government official when accusations emerged in recent years but refused to quit parliament and was re-elected in last year. Sentencing Details The presiding officer Kara Shead considered the defendant's condition of sight disability in the ruling and concluded "no different consequence besides imprisonment is appropriate". The defendant, who appeared via video-link at the judicial venue, will complete at least nearly four years in custody before he can apply for early release. Justice Shead declared the judicial system needs to "deliver a strong warning to potential criminals that criminal acts of this nature will be faced with serious punishments". Additional Information The judge added the defendant had "escaped justice for a decade and experienced freedom free from a programme or consequence for his actions during that period". Post-trial, the politician attempted a rejected appeal attempt to continue in government and left office just prior to the congress could remove him. Representatives has stated earlier he aims to appeal the conviction. Trial Evidence His nine-week trial in the NSW District Court was told that he brought a intoxicated young adult to his residence in 2013 and attacked him repeatedly, despite his attempts to fight back. In 2015, he sexually assaulted a mid-twenties office worker at his property after an event at the legislature. The defendant had maintained the second incident never occurred, and that the additional accuser was confused about their encounter from 2013. The state's attorneys contended that striking similarities in the accounts of the individuals, who did not know the other, proved they were being honest. Court members considered for three days before announcing the findings of guilt. Ward's resignation caused a by-election in his constituency in last fall, which was secured by the Labor candidate.