Former Australian Politician Jailed for Above Five Years for Sex Crimes
A former lawmaker found guilty of assaulting two victims he met through professional activities received a sentence to nearly six years in detention.
Trial Information
The defendant, forty-four, has been in custody since mid-year after judicial panel found him guilty of sexually assaulting a victim and indecently assaulting a second person, in separate incidents in 2013 then 2015.
The defendant acted for the coastal town of the district in the NSW government from 2011. He resigned as a Liberal Party cabinet member when allegations came to light in 2021 but resisted resigning from the legislature and returned to office in last year.
Sentencing Details
The presiding officer Kara Shead took into account Ward's disability of sight disability in the judgment and determined "no other penalty other than detention is appropriate".
The convicted individual, who was present via video-link at Parramatta District Court, will complete at no less than three years and nine months in custody before he can apply for early release.
The judge stated the court needs to "send a stern message to potential criminals that illegal behaviors such as this will be met with significant consequences".
Additional Information
She also said the defendant had "avoided punishment for multiple years and lived freely without a rehabilitation program or penalty for his crimes during that period".
Following the verdict, the individual initiated a unsuccessful appeal attempt to continue in his position and left office just prior to the members could expel him.
Representatives has indicated before he intends to contest the conviction.
Trial Evidence
His lengthy proceedings in the NSW District Court was told that he asked a inebriated 18-year-old man to his property in the first incident and attacked him repeatedly, despite resistance attempts to oppose.
Two years later, he attacked a 24-year-old government employee at his home after a gathering at the legislature.
The defendant had maintained the 2015 rape was fabricated, and that the additional accuser was confused about their encounter from the earlier year.
However, prosecutors argued that notable parallels in the statements of the two men, who had no connection to the other, proved they were being honest.
A jury considered for multiple days before delivering the guilty verdicts.
His departure led to a by-election in the district in last fall, which was claimed by the Labor candidate.