Name: Disgraced former MP Gareth Ward sentenced for sex crimes
Uploaded: 2025-10-31T06:29:50.214Z
Duration: 2 min 10 s
Description: Convicted sex offender Gareth Ward escaped justice for a decade but admits he has now suffered an extraordinary fall from grace. Jailed in July for indecent assault and rape, he has been given another three-and-a-half years in prison.

Convicted sex offender Gareth Ward escaped justice for a decade but admits he has now suffered an extraordinary fall from grace. Jailed in July for indecent assault and rape, he has been given another three-and-a-half years in prison.

Council of the City of Sydney

Gareth Ward, the former member for Kiama in New South Wales, has been sentenced to five years and nine months in prison for the sexual assault of two men, following a nine-week trial that found him guilty. The offences took place in 2013 and 2015, with both victims stating the assaults had a profound and lasting impact on their lives, including psychological harm and substance abuse.

The judge described Ward's actions as callous and predatory, noting his high moral culpability. While Ward's low vision disability was considered in the sentencing, the judge rejected his claims that his sexuality was relevant to the offences. Ward maintains his innocence and has indicated he will appeal the conviction.

Disgraced former MP Gareth Ward sentenced for sex crimes

From member for Kiamma of 14 years to a prison inmate for the past three months. Today disgraced former MP Gareth Ward found out how long he will spend behind bars for the sexual assault of two men. Overall you are sentenced to an aggregate term of imprisonment for five years and nine months with an on-parole period of imprisonment for three years and nine months. After a nine-week trial found him guilty. What do you have to say for what they endured? Ward's two victims were aged 18 and 24 at the time. They were both intoxicated when they were invited to the State MP's home and thought they were staying in a spare bed. The assaults occurred at Potts Point after a Parliament House function in 2015 and after a party in the Shoal Haven in 2013. Offences that one victim said had profoundly changed my life. It has caused me lasting psychological harm, damaged my sense of safety and led to years of substance abuse and alcoholism. The offender knew that the victim was suffering discomfort and pain yet continued with the sexual intercourse until he achieved sexual satisfaction. The rape and everything that followed has changed my life in ways I never imagined possible. It has taken from me my dreams, my trust in others, my sense of intimacy, my friendships and at times even my will to go on. Ward, who has a degree in law himself, today learned the harsh realities of breaking it. The offender acted in a callous and predatory manner. The offender's moral culpability was high. The judge gave weight to Ward's low vision disability accepting that it would make his time in prison more difficult. He admits his standing in the community is shattered but says that now his sexuality is public, he won't re-offend. The judge rejected any connection. Ward maintains he is not guilty. Has Gareth Ward indicated he will appeal? Yes, he's appealing. He has not expressed any remorse. Sarah Naven, 10 News.

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