Convicted rapist Gareth Ward argues he should receive lighter sentence due to ‘enormous fall from grace’

Lawyers for former Kiama MP tell court Ward has lost political career and prospective legal career, while standing in community ‘shattered’

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Lawyers for convicted rapist Gareth Ward have argued in court that he should receive a lighter sentence because of his “enormous fall from grace”, including the loss of his political career.

Ward resigned as a New South Wales MP last month, just hours before he was to be kicked out of parliament. He is due to learn his fate at the end of October but faced a sentencing hearing on Friday.