🔗 Share this article Ex- Australian Public Figure Imprisoned for Over 60 Months for Sexual Offenses Gareth Ward was jailed for five years and nine months for the sexual abuse of two victims An ex- public official found guilty of attacking two young men encountered via professional activities received a sentence to 69 months in prison. Legal Proceedings The former official, mid-forties, was in jail since mid-year after a jury found him guilty of raping an individual and attacking a second person, in different occasions in over two years. Ward served the seaside community of the district in the New South Wales parliament from 2011. He resigned as a government official when the claims came to light in recent years but refused to quit the legislature and won again in last year. Judgment Information Judge the judicial figure took into account his visual impairment of sight disability in the judgment and concluded "no different consequence except for incarceration could be considered". The convicted individual, who participated via remote connection at the judicial venue, will complete at no less than nearly four years in detention before he can apply for early release. The court official declared the legal system needs to "send a stern message to like-minded offenders that criminal acts like these will be met with serious punishments". Additional Information She also said Ward had "evaded consequences for a decade and lived freely without a treatment or penalty for his actions during that time". Post-trial, the individual launched a unsuccessful court challenge to remain in parliament and stepped down shortly before the legislature could remove him. Defense attorneys has indicated before he aims to contest the ruling. Case Facts His extended court case in the judicial venue was told that he asked a inebriated 18-year-old man to his home in 2013 and attacked him on multiple occasions, despite the victim's efforts to resist. Two years later, he sexually assaulted a mid-twenties government employee at his home after a function at parliament. Ward had maintained the second incident didn't happen, and that the additional accuser was misremembering their encounter from 2013. However, prosecutors contended that notable parallels in the statements of the individuals, who did not know the other, showed they were telling the truth. Court members deliberated for 72 hours before returning the findings of guilt. Ward's resignation prompted a by-election in Kiama in autumn, which was won by the Labor candidate.