Former Australian Lawmaker Jailed for More Than Half a Decade for Criminal Acts
A former Australian politician found guilty of assaulting two young men connected through his position has been sentenced to five years and nine months in detention.
Legal Proceedings
The defendant, 44, remained in prison since last summer after the court found him guilty of sexually assaulting a victim and attacking another, in separate incidents in over two years.
The defendant acted for the coastal town of Kiama in the New South Wales legislature from 2011. He resigned as a Liberal Party official when allegations came to light in 2021 but refused to quit the legislature and won again in last year.
Court Ruling
The presiding officer Kara Shead considered Ward's disability of vision impairment in the judgment and concluded "no different consequence besides imprisonment is appropriate".
The defendant, who appeared via remote connection at Parramatta District Court, will serve at no less than three years and nine months in detention before he can seek conditional freedom.
The judge stated the legal system needs to "issue a clear statement to similar individuals that illegal behaviors like these will be faced with serious punishments".
Case Background
The judge added Ward had "escaped justice for ten years and experienced freedom absent a rehabilitation program or consequence for his crimes during those years".
After his conviction, Ward launched a rejected court challenge to stay in parliament and stepped down just prior to the legislature could expel him.
Defense attorneys has previously said he aims to contest the conviction.
Case Facts
His lengthy proceedings in the judicial venue heard that he invited a intoxicated 18-year-old man to his property in 2013 and sexually abused him repeatedly, despite the victim's efforts to oppose.
Two years later, he raped a mid-twenties government employee at his residence after an event at the legislature.
The defendant had claimed the second incident was fabricated, and that the first victim was misremembering their interaction from the first incident.
But the prosecution argued that significant resemblances in the accounts of the two men, who did not know one another, showed they were being honest.
The panel considered for 72 hours before announcing the guilty verdicts.
His departure caused a special election in the district in September, which was won by the opposition party.
