Ex- Australian Lawmaker Imprisoned for Above Five Years for Sex Crimes
A former lawmaker convicted of assaulting two victims encountered via his position was given to nearly six years in prison.
Trial Information
The former official, mid-forties, was in custody since July after a jury determined his guilt of sexually assaulting one man and attacking another individual, in separate incidents in 2013 then 2015.
The politician represented the coastal town of Kiama in the New South Wales government from over a decade ago. He resigned as a Liberal Party official when allegations came to light in 2021 but declined to leave parliament and was re-elected in 2023.
Sentencing Details
Judge the court official took into account his visual impairment of vision impairment in the ruling and found "no other penalty other than imprisonment is appropriate".
Ward, who was present via remote connection at Parramatta District Court, will serve at minimum 45 months in prison before he can request early release.
Justice Shead stated the judicial system needs to "deliver a strong warning to potential criminals that criminal acts of this nature will be subject to significant consequences".
Case Background
The judge added Ward had "escaped justice for multiple years and enjoyed a life without a programme or punishment for the offenses during that period".
Post-trial, Ward attempted a rejected appeal attempt to continue in government and stepped down shortly before the congress could expel him.
Defense attorneys has indicated before he plans to contest the ruling.
Case Facts
The defendant's extended court case in the judicial venue heard that he brought a intoxicated 18-year-old man to his property in 2013 and indecently assaulted him repeatedly, despite his attempts to oppose.
Two years later, he raped a 24-year-old government employee at his home after a function at parliament.
The defendant had claimed the 2015 rape never occurred, and that the other complainant was misremembering their encounter from the first incident.
But the prosecution contended that striking similarities in the accounts of the two men, who did not know each other, demonstrated they were accurate in their accounts.
Court members debated for three days before returning the findings of guilt.
The political exit prompted a by-election in Kiama in September, which was won by the Labor candidate.
