Gareth Ward assaulted victims ‘without warning’: Crown

In the course of his political career, state MP Gareth Ward is alleged to have met and sexually assaulted two young men at his homes.

Independent state Kiama MP Gareth Ward arrives at Downing Court in Sydney.

Kiama MP Gareth Ward allegedly assaulted two men he met through his political career, with prosecutors saying he took them to his home, climbed into bed with them against their wishes and molested them.

In her opening address on Tuesday, Crown prosecutor Monika Knowles said Mr Ward had indecently assaulted a business associate in February 2013, who had turned 18 years old a month prior, and a 24-year-old man in September 2015 he met at the NSW parliament.

He is alleged to have massaged, groped, anally assaulted and masturbated beside his alleged victims.

The independent state MP fronted Downing Centre District Court on Tuesday for his four-week trial, where he was placed in the dock opposite a freshly empanelled jury.

He faces five charges: three counts of assault with act of indecency, with an alternative charge of common assault against the younger victim at Meroo Meadow, Shoalhaven, and sexual intercourse without consent in Potts Point, Sydney against the older victim.mainte

Ms Knowles said Mr Ward met the first alleged victim in December 2012 during a networking event at the Bomaderry Bowling Club, north of Nowra. Then aged 17, the alleged victim went on to join the Young Liberals.

He ran into Mr Ward before a party in Nowra in February 2013, the court heard, where he got drunk, had a falling out with his girlfriend and spoke to Mr Ward on the phone, believing some of the partygoers would be heading back to Mr Ward’s house.

“(He) perceived himself to be friends with the accused,” Ms Knowles said.

Mr Ward said the alleged victim could come over, but when he arrived he found no one else was there.

Mr Ward has been charged with historic sexual abuse charges. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

In Mr Ward’s backyard, Ms Knowles said the alleged victim “laid on the grass, pretending to be passed out” as a joke. It is alleged Mr Ward “rushed out and shook” him then “without warning”, slipped his hand into the man’s boardshorts “rubbed (his) buttocks”, then moved his hand down to his thigh and along his leg to his scrotum.

Despite being shocked, the alleged victim “opened his eyes and played as though he had just woken up and was unaware of being touched”, Ms Knowles said. He then asked to go to bed, the court heard, but Mr Ward said it was unsafe for him to sleep alone given how intoxicated he was.

“(He) wasn’t happy with the situation but also wanted to go straight to sleep,” Ms Knowles said.

Once in bed, Mr Ward allegedly “mounted” the alleged victim, with his groin resting on his buttocks and his hands massaging his lower back.

“He froze and quickly told the accused to stop because he wanted to go to sleep,” Ms Knowles said.

“(Mr Ward) did not comply.”

It was alleged Mr Ward eventually acquiesced, the alleged victim fell asleep, and Mr Ward was gone when he woke. The pair were in contact for two years following the alleged indecent assault before the alleged victim “decided then he didn’t want or need to have the accused in his life anymore”.

Ms Knowles said he began “self-medicating” with drugs, achieved sobriety in 2018 and reported the alleged assault to police in November 2020 after confiding his experience with his business partner and a trusted friend.

The second alleged victim, a parliamentary associate of Mr Ward, was allegedly assaulted in December 2015 after an event at Parliament House where the alleged victim had “had a few too many drinks”.

“The accused approached him, engaged him in conversation and eventually offered him a place to stay at his apartment,” Ms Knowles said.

They went back to his Potts Point property, the court heard, where Mr Ward plied him with alcohol and tried to kiss him out on a balcony. Initially rebuffing Mr Ward, the accused tried again and his alleged victim “let the kiss happen for a couple of seconds”.

Mr Ward allegedly took him to the bedroom, which the alleged victim thought he would have to himself. He “was in the process of going to sleep when the accused came back in” where he “tried to put his arm over (the alleged victim) but (he) kept moving away and asked him to stop”.

“Without any warning the accused put his finger inside (the alleged victim’s) anus, he said “stop it” but the accused kept going,” Ms Knowles said.

As he digitally penetrated the alleged victim, Mr Ward kissed his neck and masturbated to completion, the court heard. The alleged victim then lay awake “sad and confused” because he “didn’t know why he didn’t leave”.

The next morning, according to Ms Knowles’ account, Mr Ward said “he was sorry if he made (the alleged victim) feel uncomfortable” and offered to “take care” of him.

While he “moved on” after the alleged assault, a return to political work prompted the alleged victim to confide in a friend about what had happened to him. This friend happened to be the same person to whom the first alleged victim had spoken to.

She asked the second alleged victim if she could take the evidence to the police, he agreed, and by March 2022 Mr Ward was charged for allegedly assaulting both victims.

The trial will continue on Wednesday.