Ex- Down Under Lawmaker Jailed for Above 60 Months for Sex Crimes
An ex- Australian politician convicted of attacking two individuals he met through his position has been sentenced to 69 months in detention.
Trial Information
The former official, 44, remained in custody since last summer after judicial panel convicted him of attacking a victim and sexually abusing another individual, in multiple events in over two years.
Ward represented the coastal town of the district in the NSW parliament from over a decade ago. He resigned as a political party official when the claims emerged in recent years but resisted resigning from parliament and was re-elected in 2023.
Sentencing Details
Judge the court official took into account his visual impairment of vision impairment in the judgment and found "no other penalty except for detention would be suitable".
Ward, who participated via video-link at Parramatta District Court, will complete at no less than three years and nine months in custody before he can seek conditional freedom.
The court official declared the judicial system needs to "issue a clear statement to similar individuals that sexual offendings of this nature will be met with serious punishments".
Additional Information
Additionally stated the convicted man had "avoided punishment for multiple years and experienced freedom absent a programme or punishment for his crimes during those years".
After his conviction, the individual launched a rejected appeal attempt to remain in his position and left office just prior to the congress could oust him.
His legal team has previously said he intends to appeal the guilty verdict.
Incident Details
His nine-week trial in the judicial venue learned that he brought a inebriated 18-year-old man to his property in the first incident and attacked him repeatedly, despite the victim's efforts to resist.
Two years later, he raped a 24-year-old political staffer at his home after an event at government offices.
Ward had maintained the second incident was fabricated, and that the first victim was inaccurate regarding their meeting from the earlier year.
But the prosecution maintained that striking similarities in the testimonies of the two men, who did not know each other, demonstrated they were being honest.
The panel considered for three days before announcing the findings of guilt.
The political exit caused a replacement vote in the district in September, which was secured by the Labor candidate.
