Ex- Australian Lawmaker Sentenced for Above 60 Months for Sexual Offenses
A former public official convicted of sexually abusing two victims connected through his position was given to nearly six years in prison.
Case Details
The defendant, 44, was in prison since mid-year after the court determined his guilt of raping one man and sexually abusing a second person, in multiple events in 2013 then 2015.
The defendant served the oceanfront municipality of Kiama in the New South Wales legislature from 2011. He left his position as a political party minister when accusations surfaced in 2021 but refused to quit the legislature and won again in 2023.
Sentencing Details
Judge Kara Shead considered his visual impairment of legal blindness in the ruling and determined "no different consequence other than incarceration could be considered".
Ward, who appeared via digital means at Parramatta District Court, will complete at no less than three years and nine months in prison before he can seek early release.
Justice Shead said the judicial system needs to "send a stern message to like-minded offenders that criminal acts of this nature will be faced with significant consequences".
Case Background
The judge added Ward had "evaded consequences for ten years and experienced freedom free from a programme or penalty for the offenses during that period".
After his conviction, the politician launched a unsuccessful legal bid to continue in government and resigned shortly before the legislature could oust him.
Representatives has indicated before he plans to challenge the guilty verdict.
Incident Details
The defendant's nine-week trial in the judicial venue heard that he invited a drunk 18-year-old man to his home in 2013 and attacked him on multiple occasions, despite his attempts to resist.
Two years later, he sexually assaulted a 24-year-old political staffer at his residence after a function at parliament.
He had argued the later assault was fabricated, and that the first victim was confused about their encounter from the first incident.
But the prosecution maintained that notable parallels in the statements of the victims, who did not know the other, demonstrated they were being honest.
A jury considered for multiple days before returning the convictions.
His departure led to a replacement vote in his constituency in autumn, which was claimed by the challenger.
