Former Australian Lawmaker Sentenced for Over Five Years for Sex Crimes
One-time Australian politician convicted of assaulting two victims he met through professional activities received a sentence to nearly six years in prison.
Legal Proceedings
The former official, mid-forties, remained in jail since July after the court found him guilty of attacking a victim and sexually abusing a second person, in multiple events in 2013 and 2015.
The defendant acted for the seaside community of the regional area in the New South Wales government from the year 2011. He resigned as a political party cabinet member when allegations emerged in 2021 but resisted resigning from the legislature and returned to office in 2023.
Court Ruling
The presiding officer the court official evaluated his visual impairment of sight disability in her sentence and determined "no different consequence besides imprisonment could be considered".
The convicted individual, who appeared via remote connection at the judicial venue, will undergo at no less than 45 months in prison before he can apply for conditional freedom.
Justice Shead declared the legal system needs to "deliver a strong warning to like-minded offenders that sexual offendings of this nature will be faced with significant consequences".
Case Background
The judge added Ward had "evaded consequences for multiple years and experienced freedom without a rehabilitation program or consequence for his crimes during that period".
After his conviction, the individual launched a failed appeal attempt to remain in parliament and left office shortly before the members could remove him.
Defense attorneys has indicated before he aims to appeal the ruling.
Case Facts
Ward's extended court case in the judicial venue learned that he asked a inebriated 18-year-old man to his property in 2013 and sexually abused him repeatedly, despite his attempts to resist.
Subsequently, he raped a mid-twenties political staffer at his property after a function at government offices.
The defendant had claimed the second incident was fabricated, and that the first victim was confused about their interaction from the first incident.
However, prosecutors argued that notable parallels in the accounts of the victims, who were unacquainted with the other, demonstrated they were being honest.
Court members deliberated for three days before returning the findings of guilt.
His departure caused a by-election in Kiama in last fall, which was won by the challenger.