A former state minister is fighting allegations he invited a drunk man and a teenager back to his house on separate occasions to sexually abuse them.
Gareth Ward, the member for the NSW seat of Kiama on the state’s south coast, has pleaded not guilty to five charges, including sexual intercourse without consent and three counts of indecent assault.
The 44-year-old faced Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court on Tuesday for the first day of his four-week trial.
Ward has been accused of indecently assaulting an 18-year-old he met at a networking event on NSW’s south coast in 2012.
The alleged victim had been drinking at a party in Nowra in February 2013 when Ward invited him to his home and offered to pay for his taxi, the court was told.
Crown prosecutor Monika Knowles claimed the teen kept drinking after he arrived before deciding to pretend to be passed out on the grass as a ‘joke’.
The court was told Ward allegedly tried to rouse him before putting his hands inside the teen’s shorts and touching his buttocks and scrotum.
The jury was told the teen stopped pretending to be unconscious and told Ward he wanted to go to bed, but the politician told him he wouldn’t be safe sleeping on his own.
Kiama MP Gareth Ward (pictured) has pleaded not guilty to five charges, including sexual intercourse without consent, at Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court
The Crown alleged Ward got into bed with the teen, sat on his buttocks and began to massage his lower back.
The teen froze and asked the MP to stop because he wanted to go to sleep, Ms Knowles claimed.
The jury will be required to determine whether the alleged massage amounts to an indecent assault or, alternatively, a common assault.
Two years later, Ward allegedly sexually assaulted a 24-year-old he worked with at NSW Parliament, the jury was told.
The man had been drinking when the MP offered to let him stay the night at his apartment in Potts Point, Ms Knowles alleged.
She claimed Ward poured them drinks and tried to kiss the man, who said no before briefly allowing a second kiss.
After pushing Ward away, the jury was told the 24-year-old went into the room he had been offered and stripped off for bed.
The Crown alleged Ward got into bed with him and tried to put his arm around the man, which he pushed off, before sexually assaulting him.
The court heard that Ward (pictured with former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian) allegedly invited a drunk man and a teenager to his home on separate occasions to sexually abuse them. He has maintained his innocence
The man said stop and tried to push him away, the jury was told, but Ward allegedly kissed the man’s neck and masturbated beside him.
Ms Knowles alleged the 24-year-old was left ‘sad and confused’, which was followed by a discussion of his future and a suggestion Ward would take care of him.
Both men continued contact with Ward after the alleged assaults but later made complaints to police.
Ward was charged over the alleged assaults in 2022, but has continued to maintain his innocence.
He has held the Kiama electorate since 2011, winning three elections as a Liberal before securing the 2023 poll as an independent.
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National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
