Former Australian Public Figure Jailed for Above Five Years for Sex Crimes
One-time Australian politician convicted of assaulting two victims connected through his position was given to five years and nine months in prison.
Trial Information
The defendant, 44, remained in prison since mid-year after a jury convicted him of attacking a victim and indecently assaulting another individual, in multiple events in over two years.
The defendant served the coastal town of the district in the state legislature from the year 2011. He left his position as a government minister when the claims surfaced in recent years but refused to quit his seat and returned to office in 2023.
Court Ruling
Justice Kara Shead took into account the defendant's condition of sight disability in the ruling and determined "no different consequence except for detention is appropriate".
The defendant, who was present via remote connection at Parramatta District Court, will complete at least three years and nine months in prison before he can seek parole.
The judge declared the court needs to "issue a clear statement to similar individuals that criminal acts like these will be met with significant consequences".
Additional Information
She also said the defendant had "evaded consequences for ten years and lived freely free from a rehabilitation program or punishment for his crimes during those years".
Following the verdict, Ward initiated a unsuccessful appeal attempt to continue in parliament and left office just prior to the members could expel him.
Representatives has indicated before he intends to appeal the ruling.
Incident Details
Ward's nine-week trial in the NSW District Court learned that he invited a drunk 18-year-old man to his residence in 2013 and indecently assaulted him on multiple occasions, despite his attempts to oppose.
Subsequently, he attacked a young government employee at his home after a gathering at parliament.
Ward had argued the 2015 rape didn't happen, and that the other complainant was misremembering their interaction from 2013.
The state's attorneys maintained that striking similarities in the accounts of the individuals, who had no connection to one another, proved they were telling the truth.
A jury deliberated for 72 hours before returning the guilty verdicts.
The political exit led to a special election in Kiama in last fall, which was claimed by the challenger.
