Previous Australian Politician Imprisoned for Over Half a Decade for Sexual Offenses
One-time Australian politician found guilty of assaulting two victims connected through professional activities has been sentenced to 69 months in prison.
Case Details
The former official, mid-forties, was in custody since last summer after the court determined his guilt of sexually assaulting one man and sexually abusing a second person, in different occasions in over two years.
The defendant represented the seaside community of the district in the NSW government from the year 2011. He left his position as a Liberal Party cabinet member when allegations surfaced in 2021 but refused to quit his seat and returned to office in 2023.
Sentencing Details
The presiding officer the court official took into account his visual impairment of legal blindness in the judgment and determined "no other penalty except for detention could be considered".
Ward, who appeared via video-link at the judicial venue, will undergo at least three years and nine months in detention before he can seek conditional freedom.
Justice Shead stated the judicial system needs to "deliver a strong warning to similar individuals that criminal acts such as this will be met with serious punishments".
Case Background
She also said the convicted man had "evaded consequences for a decade and enjoyed a life without a rehabilitation program or punishment for his actions during that period".
After his conviction, the politician launched a rejected court challenge to remain in his position and left office shortly before the members could remove him.
His legal team has stated earlier he intends to appeal the ruling.
Case Facts
Ward's nine-week trial in the judicial venue learned that he brought a drunk young adult to his residence in 2013 and attacked him three times, despite his attempts to resist.
Subsequently, he sexually assaulted a mid-twenties government employee at his residence after an event at the legislature.
He had argued the 2015 rape didn't happen, and that the additional accuser was confused about their interaction from 2013.
However, prosecutors maintained that striking similarities in the testimonies of the victims, who had no connection to one another, proved they were telling the truth.
The panel deliberated for multiple days before returning the convictions.
His departure caused a special election in the district in autumn, which was won by the challenger.
