Gareth Ward: NSW pollie on taxpayer-funded trip when caught up in massage blackmail attempt

A NSW politician who was caught up in a sleazy blackmail attempt after ­ordering a massage in his five-star hotel room was on a trip that has cost taxpayers thousands of dollars.

MP Gareth Ward said he was “absolutely terrified” when confronted in his room. Picture: Facebook

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A NSW politician who was caught up in a sleazy blackmail attempt after ­ordering a massage in his New York five-star hotel room was on a trip that has cost taxpayers thousands of dollars.

Kiama MP Gareth Ward, a parliamentary secretary for education, was staying in a plush $500-a-night room at the ritzy InterContinental Hotel close to Times Square — which he paid for himself — when he ordered the late-night rub-down. It did not have a happy ending.

According to accounts by Mr Ward and police, two “very aggressive” African-American men arrived at his room at 10.30pm offering sexual services.

When Mr Ward told them they were rubbing him up the wrong way and rejected their advances, the pair started filming him on a mobile phone and demanded $1000 or they would post the footage online. One of them claimed to be just 16 years old.

According to local media reports, the MP was already undressing when the two men arrived.

Police said Mr Ward ordered just one male masseuse.

It is understood the massage was ordered from an outside service via the internet, with Mr Ward paying $100 in advance.

The 36-year-old bachelor told The Daily Telegraph: “I mean, who doesn’t ask for a massage when they are on holiday? I know how it looks but I can assure you this is nothing short of ­attempted robbery.

“I asked for a massage and what was clear was that there was more on offer and when I made it clear that was not what I wanted I asked them to leave.

“They got aggressive and started filming and demanding money. So I went down to the lobby because that was the only way I could get out of my room.

“I was terrified, absolutely terrified. When I walked down to the lobby I ran straight over to the desk and they (the two men) bolted. I reported it straight to the police and told them the whole thing.”

Gareth Ward missed out of a place in Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s cabinet. Picture: Facebook

Mr Ward, who has a form of albinism and is legally blind, stopped in New York on his way to a three-day conference in Nova Scotia, Canada, for disabled politicians.

Labor MP Liesl Tesch, a champion Paralympian, ­is ­attending the same conference.

Taxpayers paid for Mr Ward’s flights, estimated to have cost between $2000 and $6000, but he paid for the New York hotel himself.

The rest of his trip has been funded by the conference host, the Nova ­Scotia House of Assembly.

A statement from the NSW Parliament’s presiding officers said: “Due to the distance of travel and consideration of their needs, both Ms Tesch and Mr Ward requested additional time during transit on either side of the conference. These costs including ­accommodation and meals for the ­additional time were agreed to be met at the Members’ own personal cost.”

An NYPD spokesman said the “scam” the duo tried to pull on Mr Ward was “something we have seen before”.

“Is it common? No, I wouldn’t say that, but has it happened in the past — the same situation, yes it has,” the spokesman said.

Gareth Ward was born on the NSW South Coast, which he now represents. Picture: Facebook

The officer provided details of the incident to The Daily Telegraph.

“The complainant arranged to have a male come to his room for a massage. At approximately 10.30 two unnamed black men entered the room after knocking on door,” he said.

“They took out a cellphone and started recording, stating they were minors and that if the client didn’t give them $1000 they would put the video on the internet.

“He agreed to go down to the ATM downstairs and as he approached the lobby he noticed security and ran to them for help. They called us, the NYPD, and we came to the location. The matter is still under investigation.”

Police said there was no reference to sexual services in the complaint filed by Mr Ward: “He was requesting a massage, nothing sexual in nature that we know of.”