Man ‘scared for his job’ after alleged MP sexual assault

A man who alleges an MP sexually abused him told a friend he was “scared for his job” if he came forward with the allegations.

A man who alleges Kiama MP Gareth Ward sexually abused him told a friend he was “scared for his job” if he came forward with the allegations, a court has been told.

The NSW independent MP was charged in March 2022 with three counts of assault with act of indecency, an alternative charge of common assault 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.

He pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Kiama Liberal MP Gareth Ward had a ‘perceived power’ that made a complainant scared to come forward with the allegations, a court has been told. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

Mr Ward sat in the Downing Centre District Court docks on Monday for the fourth week of the criminal trial before Judge Kara Shead SC.

A friend and housemate of the complainant, who was 24 at the time of the alleged assault, took the stand to give evidence.

Crown prosecutor Monika Knowles asked the man about a conversation between himself and the complainant in which he appeared “upset”.

“(Name redacted) came to me … seemingly upset and told me of an incident that had happened between himself and Gareth Ward,” the man told the court.

“He was quite distressed and there were tears welling in his eyes.”

The man said the complainant had described “something of a sexual nature had occurred” and said it was “unwanted from his standpoint”.

The complainant “appeared distressed” during the conversation, the court was told, before the man’s roommate asked why the man was not coming forward with the allegations.

“He felt that he was scared for his job and that the perceived power that Gareth had within the Liberal Party would potentially mean that he would lose his job,” the man said.

The complainant had earlier told the court that he attended an event on the night of the alleged assault at NSW Parliament House in 2015 before heading back to Mr Ward’s apartment.

There, the MP poured the man a drink before allegedly attempting to kiss the man on Mr Ward’s balcony, to which the political staffer pushed him away and said “no”.

Mr Ward leaned in again a short time later and kissed the man before the 24-year-old said he wanted to go to bed, the court was told.

Mr Ward (left) has pleaded not guilty to all the charges. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

The Crown alleges the man was shown to his room by Mr Ward, who had allegedly stripped down to his boxers. Mr Ward allegedly put an arm over the man and his hands on the man’s buttocks before he was told to stop.

Without warning, it’s alleged Mr Ward digitally penetrated the man before kissing his neck and masturbating.

The two maintained a professional relationship for some time after the alleged events, the court was told.

The man made a formal statement years later to police, and Mr Ward was formally charged in March 2022.

In her opening address three weeks ago, Ms Knowles alleged that Mr Ward indecently assaulted another man, who had just turned 18, at his home on the South Coast in February 2013.

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

The trial before a 15-person jury continues.