Disgraced former Kiama MP Gareth Ward has confirmed plans to appeal a jury's guilty verdict on his charges of sexual intercourse without consent and three counts of indecent assault.

A jury convicted 44-year-old Ward of the charges in July following a nine-week trial in the NSW District Court, before he was jailed for five years and nine months , with a minimum of three years and nine months to be served before being eligible for parole.

However Ward released a statement on the same day Judge Kara Shead handed down the sentence, saying he would appeal both the verdict and sentence.

"I maintain my innocence," he said.

"Work has already commenced on the appeal of the verdict. I can confirm we will also appeal [the] sentence."

Ward also used the occasion to raise questions about the

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