Image: BBC News
Disgraced former NSW Liberal Minister Gareth Ward has been taken into custody, just days after being found guilty of sexually assaulting two young men.
The Kiama MP was convicted of three counts of assault with act of indecency against an 18-year-old man at Meroo Meadow in 2013, and one count of sexual intercourse without consent involving a 24-year-old man in Potts Point in 2015.
Ward, who was re-elected as an MP following his arrest three years ago, had denied all allegations and pleaded not guilty to each charge.
However, last Friday, a 12-member jury returned guilty verdicts on all four counts after three days of deliberations.
Ward arrived at Darlinghurst District Court on Wednesday afternoon just moments before his bail hearing, pushing through a media scrum without comment.
Judge Kara Shead SC granted the Crown’s application for detention, revoking Ward’s bail.
He was taken into custody and will remain on remand until his sentencing, scheduled for 19 September.
If you have been sexually assaulted, you can report it to the police. It is always your choice if you want to report sexual assault to Police. There are no time limitations on reporting sexual assault to the Police. There are Police Officers who are specially trained to investigate sexual assault.
You can also report anonymously using the Police’s online Sexual Assault Report Option (SARO) form– external site . This option is not a formal report to the Police, but will be used to gather information on sexual offences and offending.
