NSW MP Gareth Ward Taken Into Custody Before Sentencing

Convicted NSW MP Gareth Ward has been taken into custody after a judge granted a prosecution application to revoke his bail ahead of sentencing. The Member for Kiama appeared in the Darlinghurst District Court on Wednesday afternoon, five days after a jury found him guilty of sexually abusing two young men. He was convicted of three counts of indecent assault and one count of sexual intercourse without consent, serious offences that carry the likelihood of a full-time custodial sentence.

Prosecutors foreshadowed the detention application moments after the guilty verdicts were delivered last Friday, but Ward's legal team requested time to respond. Ward was released on bail and required to report to police daily. On Wednesday, the defence opposed the Crown's application to revoke bail, noting serious concerns for Ward's safety due to the nature of his offences and his vulnerability as a vision-impaired person.

The court heard a letter from a doctor had indicated Ward's vision was \"close to legal blindness\" but he functioned at a \"very high level\". \"If anyone was going to be at risk of personal violence or generally degrading treatment, it must be this person,\" defence lawyer Edward Anderson said. Mr Anderson argued detaining Ward would limit his ability to communicate ahead of his sentencing. \"In order to read and communicate in writing or electronically, he relies on special technology,\" he said.

The Crown told the court the matters raised by the defence \"don't rise as high as special or exceptional circumstances\". \"Mr Ward is not the first person to find himself in a high-profile position facing custody,\" the prosecutor said. \"There are procedures in place for the management of people in Mr Ward's position.\" Judge Kara Shead granted the detention application, and the 44-year-old politician was taken into custody.

\"The policies and procedures in place will include the provision to Mr Ward the devices he needs to adequately prepare for his sentence,\" Judge Shead said. \"Equally, there are procedures in place for protection should that be required or sought on the basis of the offender's profile.\" Ward is due to be sentenced on September 19.