Ex- Australian Lawmaker Jailed for Above Five Years for Sex Crimes
A former public official found guilty of attacking two young men he met through his position has been sentenced to nearly six years in prison.
Case Details
The defendant, mid-forties, remained in custody since mid-year after judicial panel found him guilty of raping a victim and sexually abusing a second person, in multiple events in over two years.
The politician served the coastal town of the district in the state parliament from 2011. He stepped down as a political party cabinet member when allegations emerged in 2021 but resisted resigning from the legislature and won again in 2023.
Judgment Information
Judge Kara Shead considered Ward's disability of vision impairment in the judgment and determined "no alternative punishment besides detention is appropriate".
The defendant, who appeared via digital means at Parramatta District Court, will undergo at least nearly four years in detention before he can seek conditional freedom.
The court official stated the judicial system needs to "issue a clear statement to potential criminals that criminal acts such as this will be faced with serious punishments".
Additional Information
The judge added the convicted man had "avoided punishment for a decade and experienced freedom without a programme or penalty for the offenses during that time".
Following the verdict, Ward attempted a failed court challenge to stay in government and stepped down just prior to the congress could expel him.
Representatives has stated earlier he intends to appeal the ruling.
Trial Evidence
The defendant's nine-week trial in the state court was told that he asked a drunk young adult to his property in 2013 and attacked him repeatedly, despite his attempts to resist.
In 2015, he sexually assaulted a 24-year-old government employee at his property after an event at the legislature.
Ward had maintained the second incident didn't happen, and that the additional accuser was inaccurate regarding their encounter from 2013.
But the prosecution maintained that striking similarities in the statements of the victims, who did not know the other, showed they were accurate in their accounts.
The panel debated for three days before returning the guilty verdicts.
Ward's resignation prompted a special election in Kiama in last fall, which was secured by the opposition party.
