Former NSW MP Gareth Ward faces sentencing after conviction in two sexual assault cases, victim testifies

A man who says he was sexually abused by former New South Wales families minister Gareth Ward told a Parramatta court on Friday that he lived in fear Ward would reach him before he could testify, as the case returned for a sentencing hearing after Ward was found guilty of sexually assaulting two men in separate incidents.

The former Kiama MP, who is legally blind, faces sentencing after being found guilty on charges including sexual intercourse without consent and three indecent assaults. The most serious charge carries a maximum 14-year term. Ward appeared via audio-visual link from jail and stared straight ahead as the statements were read in the Parramatta court.

In the proceedings, the first victim laid out how the abuse had altered his life. He said he developed nightmares and flashbacks about the assaults, and he described a lasting numbness that drained his ability to feel joy. During the sentencing hearing, he read a statement in which he recalled the moment he realized Ward was a trusted figure who had assaulted him. "I was fearful that Gareth would get to me before I had the chance to give evidence," the man wrote.

The court heard that weeks before the trial, the man was on a walk with his son when he heard a voicemail containing two gunshots. He said Ward’s continued prominence in the NSW south coast area made him feel targeted and reinforced his concern for his safety.

Ward’s legal team has argued that his status as a high-profile, legally blind politician would make him a target in prison, a point his lawyers have raised as part of mitigating considerations. Prosecutors, meanwhile, contended that the crimes were part of a pattern involving significant abuse of trust and authority.

The most serious charge against Ward related to the 2015 incident, when he allegedly invited a drunk 18-year-old to his south coast home, served him drinks and indecently assaulted him on multiple occasions that night, despite the young man’s attempts to resist. In addition to that incident, Ward was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 24-year-old political staffer at NSW Parliament House during a mid-week event two years later; the staffer said Ward climbed into bed with him, groped his backside and repeated sexual acts despite clear refusals.

Ward won the Kiama seat in 2011 as a Liberal member, before moving to the crossbench in 2021 when formal charges were laid. His personal vote remained robust, and he was re-elected as an independent in the 2023 election despite suspension from parliament. He has been jailed since July, days after a jury convicted him following a trial that he had faced as a sitting MP.

The judge overseeing the case, Kara Shead, indicated that sentencing submissions from Ward’s lawyers would address his personal circumstances and other mitigating factors as part of the process. A sentencing date was being set as the court weighed the appropriate penalty for the crimes against the two men who testified.

The proceedings come amid heightened scrutiny of sexual misconduct cases involving public figures in Australia and the broader ongoing discussion about protections for witnesses who come forward against people in positions of power. The outcome of the sentencing process will determine Ward’s future in NSW politics and the consequences of the convictions for his former colleagues and constituents on the south coast.