The political staffer who has accused Kiama MP Gareth Ward of sexually assaulting him was too concerned about losing his job if he reported the alleged abuse, the NSW District Court was told on Monday.

The Downing Centre Court heard testimony from a friend of the complainant, who was 24 at the time when he alleged Ward sexually assaulted him at the Kiama MP’s Potts Points apartment a decade ago and cannot be named for legal reasons.

Ward is facing five charges and has pleaded not guilty to each of them: sexual intercourse without consent, common assault and three counts of indecent assault.

The friend of the complainant told the Court that the political staffer became emotional when he “described something of a sexual nature” that was unwanted in relaying what allegedly happened on the night in question after a function at NSW Parliament House in 2015.

When Crown prosecutor Monika Knowles asked why the political staffer did not immediately report the incident to police, the friend said that he was scared about losing his job due to “the perceived power that Gareth would have”.

The complainant made the allegations to police in 2021 and Ward was charged the following year.

They had maintained a professional relationship in the years after the alleged incident.

Ward was a member of the Liberal Party, which was in government at the time, but has since become an Independent.

His barrister, David Sullivan SC, has told the Court that the alleged incident did not happen.

The man has alleged that after he went to Ward’s apartment to go to sleep in a spare bedroom, the politician sexually assaulted him.

Another man, who had just turned 18 at the time of an alleged incident in 2013, has also accused Ward of an indecent assault at the Kiama MP’s Meroo Meadow property in the Shoalhaven.

The trial, which is into its fourth week before Judge Shead, continues.

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