Previous Australian Politician Jailed for More Than Five Years for Sex Crimes
A former public official convicted of attacking two victims he met through his position received a sentence to five years and nine months in jail.
Legal Proceedings
The defendant, mid-forties, has been in jail since last summer after a jury found him guilty of sexually assaulting a victim and indecently assaulting another, in separate incidents in over two years.
The defendant represented the coastal town of the district in the New South Wales parliament from over a decade ago. He stepped down as a political party minister when the claims came to light in 2021 but resisted resigning from the legislature and won again in 2023.
Sentencing Details
Justice Kara Shead considered Ward's disability of vision impairment in the ruling and determined "no alternative punishment besides detention could be considered".
The convicted individual, who was present via digital means at the judicial venue, will undergo at no less than nearly four years in detention before he can apply for early release.
The judge said the legal system needs to "send a stern message to similar individuals that criminal acts of this nature will be faced with significant consequences".
Additional Information
She also said the defendant had "escaped justice for multiple years and enjoyed a life without a treatment or punishment for the offenses during that period".
Following the verdict, Ward initiated a failed appeal attempt to stay in parliament and resigned shortly before the legislature could expel him.
His legal team has previously said he aims to contest the conviction.
Case Facts
Ward's extended court case in the judicial venue was told that he invited a intoxicated young adult to his property in the first incident and indecently assaulted him repeatedly, despite resistance attempts to resist.
Subsequently, he sexually assaulted a mid-twenties government employee at his residence after a function at parliament.
Ward had argued the 2015 rape was fabricated, and that the first victim was misremembering their encounter from the earlier year.
However, prosecutors contended that striking similarities in the statements of the victims, who were unacquainted with each other, demonstrated they were being honest.
Court members deliberated for multiple days before announcing the findings of guilt.
His departure caused a replacement vote in Kiama in last fall, which was won by the Labor candidate.
