Disgraced MP Gareth Ward taken into custody after sexual abuse of young men

A former NSW Liberal Minister and now convicted rapist has been taken into custody, just days after he was found guilty of sexually abusing two young men.

Disgraced former NSW Liberal Minister Gareth Ward has been taken into custody, just days after he was found guilty of sexually abusing two young men.

Kiama MP Gareth Ward was convicted of three counts of assault with act of indecency against an 18-year-old man at Meroo Meadow in 2013 and intercourse without consent against a 24-year-old man in Potts Point in 2015.

Since his arrest three years ago, during which time he was re-elected as MP, Ward denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to all counts.

However, a 12-person jury found the former minister guilty on all four counts last Friday on their third day of deliberations.

The MP arrived with just minutes to spare before his bail hearing at Darlinghurst District Court on Wednesday afternoon, and pushed swiftly past the media scrum.

Judge Kara Shead SC delivered her decision on Wednesday afternoon, granting the crown’s detention application.

The MP’s bail was revoked, and he was taken into custody on remand awaiting his sentence, set for 19 September.

Ward stood in the docks before turning and nodding to a row of journalists sitting in court, many of whom had covered his lengthy trial, as correctives officers approached.

Moments before he was placed in handcuffs he remarked to his defence Barrister Edward Anderson: “You did the best you could”.

He was then escorted out of the courtroom.

Disgraced Kiama MP Gareth Ward arrives at Darlinghurst Courthouse after he was found guilty of sexually abusing two younger men. Picture: NewsWire / Max Mason-Hubers

Gareth Ward had denied all charges but was convicted last week. Photo: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

Defence Barrister Edward Anderson argued Ward would be “a vulnerable person in custody”, given the combination of his occupation, public profile, and the nature of his offending.

“The very unusual combination of circumstances grants him as a particular target for conduct and my submission is that notoriously these people in custody are subject to physical violence or otherwise,” he told the court.

Mr Anderson added a letter from surgeon Dr Mark McDonald stated that due to Ward’s visual impairment he requires “particular technology and other assistance” in order to read and write.

While the barrister conceded it was “inevitable” that Ward would eventually be taken into custody, but that it “shouldn’t be today”.

He also argued Ward has been “completely in compliance” with his bail conditions over the past three years.

However, crown prosecutor Monika Knowles said there are “processes in place” for these risks to be managed in a cell.

“He is not the first person to find himself in a high-profile position being taken into custody,” she said.

“These are not exceptional circumstances.”

Ms Knowles argued that while the MP has a visual impairment, he nevertheless functions at “a very high level”.

“Correctives have support in place for people who even are in total blindness … so these features in combination don’t rise as high as special or exceptional circumstances,” she said.

Justice Shead made orders to ensure risks are mitigated as Ward serves time in custody.

Among those are the provision of an iPad or laptop to Mr Ward with “as large a screen as possible” and a PDF reader installed.

“Particular attention should be given to the conditions of Mr Ward’s custody, including protection,” she said in her orders.

An expert’s letter regarding Mr Ward’s visual disability will also accompany him into custody, and Justice Health is to provide a report in relation to the facilities available to Mr Ward in custody to assist with his disability.

The 43-year-old was first charged by police in March 2022.

His trial experienced several delays, including the flooding of the Downing Centre courthouse, which forced it to be moved to the Darlinghurst District Court for its remaining weeks.

During the lengthy trial, Ms Knowles told the jury that it was “not a coincidence” that two men came forward with similar allegations.

Beginning his political career in 2011, Ward was a councillor on the Shoalhaven Council before becoming the Liberal and later independent member for Kiama in 2011, a seat he has held since.

Originally published as Disgraced MP Gareth Ward taken into custody after sexual abuse of young men