One of two victims of convicted rapist Gareth Ward has told a court about the severe mental health issues, flashbacks and fear he has endured since the former state MP assaulted him more than a decade ago.

The 44-year-old was convicted in July of indecently assaulting a then-18-year-old man at his Shoalhaven home on the South Coast in 2013, as well as raping a 24-year-old political staffer at his Potts Point apartment in 2015. He met both men through his role as Kiama MP.

Ward remained on bail for five days following the verdict, until Judge Kara Shead revoked his bail and he was taken into custody ahead of his sentence hearing.

At a hearing at Parramatta District Court on Friday, a victim impact statement was read out on behalf of the Shoalhaven victim.

The man said the “significant p

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