Gareth Ward was accused of two acts of sexual and indecent assault during opening statements in the trial of the former NSW Cabinet Minister on Tuesday in the Downing Centre Court.

The 43-year-old Kiama state MP has pleaded not guilty to five charges - sexual intercourse without consent, common assault and three counts of indecent assault.

The Crown Prosecutor, Monika Knowles, told the NSW District Court that police allege that Ward indecently groped an 18-year-old man in 2013 on the backyard lawn at his Meroo Meadow property.

The court heard that the complainant had been drinking and had accepted an invitation to Ward’s home under the impression that other people would be there but was surprised that they were alone and that he had not welcomed any sexual advances.

The Crown Prosecutor alleged Ward told the young man to sleep in his bed and tried to perform a back massage on the complainant before being told to stop.

The second incident was alleged to have occurred in 2015 at Potts Point in Sydney’s east.

The court heard that a man aged in his 20s was invited to Ward’s apartment and told police that the politician unexpectedly kissed him and performed a sexual act without his consent.

The Prosecutor said the complainant received “what he saw as an apology” from Ward soon after the alleged incident but reported the matter to police in 2021.

Ward refused to speak to the media outside the court and his legal team is yet to respond to the Crown Prosecutor’s opening arguments.

The trial continues and is expected to run for a month.

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National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028