Kiama MP Gareth Ward is on trial for alleged assaults against two young men in 2013 and 2015. Photo: Facebook.
CONTENT WARNING: This article refers to allegations of sexual assault.
Disturbing details of the assaults Kiama MP Gareth Ward allegedly committed against two young men have been revealed in the NSW District Court.
The Crown prosecution made the opening arguments of their case against him at Sydney’s Downing Centre this week.
The court heard allegations that on two separate occasions in 2013 and 2015 Mr Ward invited young, intoxicated men back to his home before he proceeded to touch them in an unwelcome and sexual manner.
Mr Ward faces five charges in relation to the alleged incidents. Three counts of indecent assault and a fourth alternate count of common assault are related to the 2013 incident.
The fifth and most serious charge is of sexual intercourse without consent in relation to the 2015 allegations.
Outlining the case, the Crown prosecutor told the court Mr Ward was at a Parliament House function in September 2015. The second complainant attended the same function.
The second complainant lived a significant distance from the function, and Mr Ward offered him a place to sleep at his nearby Potts Point apartment.
The two walked back to the apartment and continued to drink on the balcony.
“On the balcony Mr Ward tried to kiss the victim, who told him, ‘No’,” the Crown prosecutor told the court.
“A few seconds later he tried again, and the victim let it happen until he felt Mr Ward’s tongue, when he pushed him away.
“He told Mr Ward he had a big day ahead and needed to go to bed.
“The victim assumed he would have the bedroom he was shown to himself.
“When the accused left the room the victim stripped down to his boxers and undershirt and went to bed.
“The accused came back in, got in bed and tried to put his arm over the victim, who kept moving away. The accused then put his hand down the victim’s boxers and onto his buttocks.”
It will be alleged the victim told him to stop but Mr Ward proceeded to digitally penetrate him.
The Crown said Mr Ward then washed and went back to bed.
The first three charges, and the fourth alternate charge, relate to a series of events the prosecution allege happened two years prior to the Potts Point incident.
The prosecution said Mr Ward had befriended a 17-year-old at a business networking event held in Bomaderry.
Several months later in February 2013 the complainant, then aged 18, was going to a party with his girlfriend at the time.
On his way to the party he ran into Mr Ward outside another event, the court was told, and understood Mr Ward would be hosting an after-party of sorts at his Meroo Meadow home.
At the party the complainant got into a fight with his girlfriend, and the two separated.
“There was phone contact between the victim and the accused; the accused offered the victim to come to his house, and offered to pay for a taxi,” the Crown prosecutor told the court.
“The victim arrived and realised no one else was there.
“The two continued to drink in the backyard.
“When the accused went back into the house the victim lay down, pretending to be passed out.
“The accused came out and shook him; then without warning the accused slid his hand into the victim’s short and rubbed his buttocks.
“The victim froze in shock before the accused’s hand moved to his inner thigh and the side of his scrotum.
“The victim opened his eyes and pretended he had just woken up and was unaware of what had happened.
“He said he wanted to go to bed, and the accused said he would not be safe to sleep alone.
“[In the bed] the accused mounted the victim with his legs on either side of the victim’s body and massaged his lower back.
“The victim told the accused to stop as he wanted to go to sleep.
“The accused did not comply and told the victim to relax. The victim continued to insist, and eventually the accused stopped.
“They both went to sleep, and when he woke in the morning the accused was gone.”
The prosecution touched on the mental health consequences both of the complainants experienced following the alleged assaults.
Both experienced feelings of shame, and one spiralled into addiction.
It was after that victim became sober that he made a police report; the other complainant was referred to police after he shared his experience with a friend who was aware of the initial complaint.
Mr Ward’s jury trial is expected to take about four weeks. Fifteen jurors have been selected, to insure against any falling out during that time.
A long list of witnesses are expected to give evidence, including a number of politicians and former politicians such as Joanna Gash, Ann Sudmalis and Shelley Hancock.
YouTuber Jordan Shanks, also known as Friendlyjordies, is also among the list of witnesses.
The trial at the Downing Centre Courts in Sydney continues.
If this story has raised any concerns for you, 1800RESPECT, the national 24-hour sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line, can be contacted on 1800 737 732. Help and support are also available through the Sexual Violence Legal Services on 6257 4377 and Lifeline on 13 11 14. In an emergency, call Triple Zero.
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