In a stunning fall from grace, former Kiama MP Gareth Ward has been sentenced to nearly six years behind bars for sexually assaulting a teenage boy and a young man.
The 43-year-old disgraced politician learned his fate in Sydney's Downing Centre District Court on Friday, where Judge Nicole Noman handed down a sentence of five years and nine months imprisonment.
A political career in ruins
Ward, who served as the member for Kiama from 2011 until his suspension in 2022, maintained his innocence throughout the trial but was ultimately convicted on three counts of sexual intercourse without consent and four counts of assault.
The court heard disturbing details of Ward's crimes, which involved a 17-year-old boy in 2013 and a 27-year-old man in 2015. Both victims were subjected to unwanted sexual advances by the then-sitting MP.
Judge delivers scathing assessment
Judge Noman didn't mince words when describing Ward's actions, stating he had shown "no remorse" for his crimes and had abused his position of power.
"The community expects and is entitled to expect that their elected representatives will uphold the law, not break it," Judge Noman declared during the sentencing.
The judge set a non-parole period of three years and six months, meaning Ward will be eligible for release in late 2027.
Rapid political downfall
Ward's political career unraveled quickly after allegations surfaced in 2021. He was suspended from the NSW Parliament in 2022 when charges were formally laid, ending his decade-long tenure representing the South Coast electorate.
Despite initially continuing to serve as an independent after leaving the Liberal Party, Ward ultimately stood aside as the scandal deepened and legal proceedings advanced.
Community reacts to sentencing
The sentencing brings closure to a case that has rocked the Kiama community and NSW political circles. Many residents expressed relief that justice had been served, while others lamented the betrayal of trust by their former representative.
This case serves as another sobering reminder that no one, regardless of their position or power, is above the law in Australia.
