Ex- Australian Lawmaker Jailed for Over Five Years for Sexual Offenses
An ex- Australian politician sentenced of assaulting two individuals he met through work has been sentenced to nearly six years in detention.
Case Details
The former official, mid-forties, remained in jail since last summer after judicial panel determined his guilt of sexually assaulting one man and indecently assaulting a second person, in multiple events in 2013 and 2015.
The politician served the oceanfront municipality of the regional area in the New South Wales legislature from 2011. He left his position as a government cabinet member when accusations came to light in 2021 but refused to quit his seat and was re-elected in 2023.
Judgment Information
The presiding officer Kara Shead took into account the defendant's condition of sight disability in the ruling and found "no other penalty other than incarceration would be suitable".
The defendant, who participated via remote connection at the judicial venue, will serve at least 45 months in prison before he can seek conditional freedom.
Justice Shead said the court needs to "deliver a strong warning to like-minded offenders that illegal behaviors such as this will be met with serious punishments".
Additional Information
The judge added Ward had "avoided punishment for ten years and enjoyed a life free from a programme or consequence for his actions during that time".
After his conviction, Ward attempted a unsuccessful appeal attempt to remain in his position and resigned just prior to the members could expel him.
Representatives has previously said he plans to appeal the ruling.
Incident Details
His extended court case in the judicial venue learned that he brought a intoxicated young adult to his residence in the first incident and indecently assaulted him repeatedly, despite resistance attempts to fight back.
Subsequently, he raped a mid-twenties office worker at his residence after a gathering at parliament.
The defendant had claimed the later assault never occurred, and that the additional accuser was confused about their interaction from the earlier year.
But the prosecution argued that notable parallels in the accounts of the individuals, who were unacquainted with one another, demonstrated they were telling the truth.
A jury debated for 72 hours before returning the convictions.
Ward's resignation led to a by-election in his constituency in September, which was secured by the opposition party.
