🔗 Share this article Former Down Under Politician Sentenced for Over Five Years for Sex Crimes Gareth Ward has become imprisoned for five years and nine months for the sexual abuse of two individuals A former public official found guilty of sexually abusing two individuals he met through his position was given to nearly six years in prison. Trial Information Gareth Ward, forty-four, has been in prison since last summer after a jury found him guilty of attacking an individual and indecently assaulting a second person, in different occasions in 2013 and 2015. The politician acted for the coastal town of the district in the state legislature from 2011. He stepped down as a government official when accusations emerged in recent years but refused to quit parliament and returned to office in last year. Judgment Information Judge the judicial figure took into account the defendant's condition of legal blindness in the judgment and determined "no different consequence besides imprisonment would be suitable". Ward, who was present via digital means at the courthouse, will undergo at least nearly four years in prison before he can seek early release. The court official declared the legal system needs to "issue a clear statement to like-minded offenders that sexual offendings of this nature will be subject to serious punishments". Case Background She also said the convicted man had "escaped justice for multiple years and lived freely without a programme or penalty for the offenses during that time". Post-trial, the politician initiated a rejected legal bid to stay in parliament and resigned moments before the members could remove him. His legal team has stated earlier he plans to challenge the guilty verdict. Trial Evidence The defendant's extended court case in the state court heard that he brought a inebriated teenager to his residence in the first incident and attacked him three times, despite his attempts to resist. In 2015, he sexually assaulted a 24-year-old political staffer at his residence after a gathering at the legislature. Ward had claimed the second incident never occurred, and that the first victim was confused about their encounter from the earlier year. However, prosecutors contended that notable parallels in the accounts of the individuals, who did not know each other, showed they were accurate in their accounts. A jury debated for three days before announcing the findings of guilt. Ward's resignation prompted a by-election in the district in September, which was secured by the Labor candidate.