‘Endearing’ messages read in Kiama MP Gareth Ward’s criminal trial

A staffer who alleges MP Gareth Ward assaulted him has told a court he spent months feeling “uncomfortable” despite keeping in contact with him.

A political staffer who alleges Kiama MP Gareth Ward sexually abused him has told a court that he spent months “looking over his shoulder” after the alleged assault despite sending him “endearing” messages.

Mr Ward, 43, is facing a four-week criminal trial in the Downing Centre District Court over allegations he sexually abused two young men.

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 has pleaded not guilty to each of the five charges.

Mr Ward arrived in court on Monday for the second week of the criminal trial before Judge Kara Shead SC.

The first complainant, a man who was aged 24 at the time of the alleged assault, again took the stand to give evidence in a cross-examination by defence solicitor David Campbell SC.

State member for Kiama Gareth Ward is facing a four-week criminal trial in the Downing Centre District Court. NewsWire / John Appleyard

Mr Campbell asked the man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, about an RSVP to a party in 2016.

The man said he “did not recall” either sending an RSVP or even attending the party.

However, Mr Campbell put to the man that it would be “extraordinary” for him not to remember attending such an event, given how he previously told the court that he felt “uncomfortable” towards Mr Ward at the time.

“Until today I haven’t recalled attending,” the man replied, noting it was almost 10 years ago.

The man’s memory again came under question when Mr Campbell asked him about further communications with Mr Ward in the months following the alleged assault.

A series of Facebook messages were read out in court between the complainant and Mr Ward.

In the messages, the man refers to Mr Ward as “love”, along with a smiley face, and asks him how his night was.

Mr Campbell said the term “love” was “an expression of endearment”, which he suggested was not the sort of dialogue one would use when feeling “uncomfortable”.

The man replied that he often referred to others, as well as colleagues, as “love” or “dear” and perhaps he was “overcompensating” at the time.

During the time of the messages in the months following the alleged assault the man told the court that he felt a “little uncomfortable”.

“What do you mean by that?” Mr Campbell asked.

“Having to be alert made me uncomfortable … when you’re looking over your shoulder, you often felt uncomfortable,” the man replied.

The cross-examination is expected to continue on Monday afternoon.

The man 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.

Messages between Mr Ward and a complainant were read out in court on Monday. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

The man said he had drunk “three or four glasses of white wine” at the event and was trying to organise a cab ride home when he ran into Mr Ward.

The pair had a brief conversation before Mr Ward allegedly invited the man to his office at Parliament House where he poured the staffer another wine.

The man told Mr Ward that he had to leave as he lived “a long way away”, to which the MP offered the 24-year-old to stay at his place that night, the court was told.

The pair allegedly walked to Mr Ward’s apartment in Potts Point, and along the way Mr Ward continued telling the man about “how bright” his future was, the court was told.

Back at Mr Ward’s apartment, the MP poured the man another drink before allegedly attempting to kiss him on his 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.

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 him before allegedly 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 last week, Crown prosecutor Monika 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 continues.