Gareth Ward, a former Australian politician, has been sentenced to five years and nine months in prison for the sexual abuse of two young men. The 44-year-old, who represented the coastal town of Kiama in the New South Wales (NSW) parliament from 2011, was found guilty in July of raping a 24-year-old political staffer in 2015 and indecently assaulting an 18-year-old man in 2013. Both incidents occurred after he met the victims through his work. Ward had been in custody since his conviction and appeared via video-link at Parramatta District Court for sentencing. Judge Kara Shead SC, who presided over the case, emphasized that imprisonment was the only appropriate penalty, despite Ward’s legal blindness. She described his actions as ‘callous and predatory’ and noted that he had ‘escaped justice for a decade.’ Ward will serve at least three years and nine months before being eligible for parole. The judge also stressed the need to send a ‘stern message’ to deter similar offenses. Ward’s resignation from parliament in July triggered a by-election in Kiama, which was won by a Labor candidate. His legal team has indicated plans to appeal the verdict, as Ward maintains his innocence. The trial revealed harrowing details of the assaults, with both victims describing long-term emotional and psychological impacts. The prosecution highlighted striking similarities in the accounts of the two men, who did not know each other, as evidence of their credibility. Despite Ward’s lack of remorse, the judge acknowledged his potential for rehabilitation.