Man who alleges Kiama MP Gareth Ward sexually assaulted him approached media: court

A man who alleges Kiama MP Gareth Ward sexually abused him when he was a teenager approached media because he wanted to “get the story out”, a court has been told.

The NSW independent MP was charged in March 2022 with three counts of assault with act of indecency, an alternative charge of common assault against an 18-year-old man at Meroo Meadow in 2013, and intercourse without consent against a 24-year-old man in Potts Point in 2015.

He pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Mr Ward sat in the docks at the Darlinghurst District Court on Tuesday as his criminal trial before Judge Kara Shead SC continued.

The second complainant, a man, who had just turned 18 at the time of the alleged assault at Mr Ward’s South Coast home in February 2013, finished giving evidence on Friday.

His girlfriend, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court on Tuesday that the man told her that Mr Ward had “touched him inappropriately” and had “put his hands down his pants”.

“He was very uncertain about how he should go about seeking help … he didn’t know if he should contact police, he was worried about the extent to which that would lead to,” she said.

“He discussed talking to the media and keeping himself anonymous just to get some information out.”

The woman said the complainant had reached out to a YouTube personality with his story.

“He wanted to get the story out to the media but he didn’t necessarily want his name associated, but he wanted the information to get out because he was worried about other people,” she said.

However, after discussing the matter with the YouTube personality, the man ultimately decided it was best to go to the police, the woman told the court.

“I remember saying that he would have a better opportunity with the police given they have resources and that if other people had experienced something similar that they could get help as well,” she said.

The court was earlier told how Mr Ward had met the alleged victim three months prior to the alleged assault and they became friends.

On the night in question, the complainant had been at a party in the Shoalhaven area before leaving and getting in contact with Mr Ward, who invited him over to his Meroo Meadow home and offered to pay for his taxi ride.

The court was told the then-18-year-old and Mr Ward continued drinking together at his home before the teen went outside and laid on the grass, pretending he had passed out as a “prank”.

The man alleged Mr Ward was trying to get his attention and put both hands on him, then without warning put his hand down his pants and touched his buttocks.

He told the court he “froze” and alleged he remembered Mr Ward’s “heavy breathing” as the politician moved his hand to the then teenager’s genital area.

The man said he then told Mr Ward that he wanted to go to sleep and the pair went back inside, with the politician allegedly telling him that he should not sleep alone.

Mr Ward allegedly directed the man towards the MP’s bedroom, where the man laid face down on the bed.

The alleged victim told the court that Mr Ward “mounted” him and sat on his buttocks, then started to massage his back.

The man told the court the massage eventually ended and they went to sleep.

The man said he and Mr Ward maintained contact on a “social level” before the alleged acts were reported to police in November 2020.

It is also alleged Mr Ward sexually assaulted another man – who was 24 years old at the time – at his Potts Point apartment in September 2015.

Beginning his political career in 2011, Mr Ward was a councillor on the Shoalhaven Council before becoming the Liberal member for Kiama in 2011, a seat he has held since.

The trial before a 15-person jury continues.

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