Previous Down Under Public Figure Imprisoned for More Than 60 Months for Sexual Offenses
A former lawmaker sentenced of attacking two victims connected through work received a sentence to 69 months in prison.
Legal Proceedings
The former official, mid-forties, was in prison since July after the court found him guilty of attacking one man and indecently assaulting a second person, in multiple events in 2013 then 2015.
Ward acted for the seaside community of the district in the NSW legislature from over a decade ago. He stepped down as a Liberal Party cabinet member when accusations surfaced in recent years but declined to leave the legislature and won again in 2023.
Sentencing Details
Justice the judicial figure considered his visual impairment of vision impairment in the ruling and concluded "no different consequence except for incarceration would be suitable".
Ward, who was present via video-link at the judicial venue, will complete at minimum nearly four years in custody before he can seek conditional freedom.
The court official stated the legal system needs to "issue a clear statement to potential criminals that criminal acts of this nature will be subject to significant consequences".
Additional Information
The judge added the defendant had "escaped justice for a decade and lived freely absent a rehabilitation program or consequence for his crimes during that time".
After his conviction, Ward initiated a rejected court challenge to stay in his position and resigned moments before the legislature could expel him.
Defense attorneys has indicated before he intends to appeal the conviction.
Trial Evidence
Ward's lengthy proceedings in the NSW District Court was told that he brought a inebriated teenager to his residence in 2013 and indecently assaulted him on multiple occasions, despite resistance attempts to fight back.
Subsequently, he raped a young political staffer at his property after a function at parliament.
Ward had maintained the 2015 rape never occurred, and that the first victim was inaccurate regarding their encounter from 2013.
The state's attorneys maintained that notable parallels in the accounts of the two men, who were unacquainted with one another, demonstrated they were accurate in their accounts.
Court members deliberated for 72 hours before delivering the findings of guilt.
Ward's resignation caused a special election in Kiama in autumn, which was won by the challenger.