A disgraced former minister will spend years behind bars after facing court for the sexual abuse of two young male victims over a decade ago.
Former Kiama state MP Gareth Ward was found guilty of sexual intercourse without consent and three indecent assaults in July following a NSW District Court trial.
The 44-year-old's acts were "deliberate and predatory," Judge Kara Shead said during sentencing at Parramatta District Court in western Sydney on Friday.
In raping one of his victims, he was aware the 24-year-old man had voiced his non-consent, the judge said.
"The offender knew that the victim was suffering discomfort and pain yet continued with the sexual intercourse until he achieved sexual satisfaction," she told the court.
The judge imposed a maximum sentence of five years and nin

 The Maitland Mercury
 The Maitland Mercury

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