前新南威尔士州议员Gareth Ward将面临2013年和2015年的性攻击判决,最高可判处14年徒刑。 Former NSW MP Gareth Ward faces sentencing for 2013 and 2015 sexual assaults, with a maximum 14-year sentence possible.

前新南威尔士议员加雷斯沃德(Gareth Ward),44岁,在7月对包括未经同意的性交在内的指控和三项猥亵攻击罪作出有罪判决后,因十多年前在任职期间实施的性攻击而面临判刑。 Former NSW MP Gareth Ward, 44, faces sentencing for sexual assaults committed over a decade ago while in office, following a July guilty verdict on charges including sexual intercourse without consent and three counts of indecent assault. 他被指控于2013年袭击一名18岁少年,因为他在家中给他下药,并于2015年在议会院为一名24岁的政治工作人员下药,受害者说,他多次拒绝。 He is accused of assaulting an 18-year-old in 2013 after drugging him at his home and a 24-year-old political staffer in 2015 at Parliament House, where the victim said he repeatedly refused. 两个受害者都描述了持久的情感创伤。 Both victims described lasting emotional trauma. 沃德的法律小组寻求宽大处理,理由是他从公共地位上陷落,但检察官没有看到任何康复的证据。 Ward’s legal team sought leniency citing his fall from public standing, but prosecutors noted no evidence of rehabilitation. 他否认这些指控,并已提出上诉。 He denies the allegations and has filed an appeal. 最严重的罪名最高可判处14年监禁。 The most serious charge carries a maximum 14-year prison sentence. 沃德曾是自由议员和家庭部长,于2021年在调查中被移到交叉路口,于2023年再次当选独立人士,尽管罪名成立,并于2025年8月在议会驱逐投票前辞职,避免成为200年来被新南威尔士议会驱逐的第5个人。 Ward, once a Liberal MP and families minister, was moved to the crossbench in 2021 amid investigations, re-elected as an independent in 2023 despite the charges, and resigned in August 2025 just before a parliamentary expulsion vote, avoiding becoming the fifth person expelled from NSW Parliament in 200 years. 性攻击的幸存者可获得支助服务。 Support services are available for survivors of sexual assault.