Previous Australian Politician Imprisoned for Above 60 Months for Sex Crimes
One-time Australian politician convicted of assaulting two young men he met through work has been sentenced to five years and nine months in detention.
Trial Information
The former official, 44, remained in prison since mid-year after a jury found him guilty of attacking a victim and attacking another individual, in multiple events in 2013 then 2015.
The politician served the coastal town of the regional area in the NSW parliament from 2011. He left his position as a government official when allegations emerged in 2021 but refused to quit parliament and was re-elected in 2023.
Judgment Information
Judge the court official took into account the defendant's condition of sight disability in the ruling and found "no other penalty besides detention is appropriate".
The convicted individual, who appeared via digital means at the judicial venue, will serve at minimum nearly four years in prison before he can apply for conditional freedom.
The court official stated the court needs to "send a stern message to similar individuals that illegal behaviors like these will be faced with serious punishments".
Additional Information
Additionally stated Ward had "evaded consequences for multiple years and enjoyed a life without a treatment or consequence for the offenses during those years".
After his conviction, the individual launched a rejected legal bid to continue in parliament and stepped down shortly before the legislature could expel him.
His legal team has indicated before he plans to appeal the guilty verdict.
Trial Evidence
The defendant's lengthy proceedings in the judicial venue learned that he asked a inebriated young adult to his property in 2013 and attacked him repeatedly, despite the victim's efforts to resist.
In 2015, he attacked a 24-year-old office worker at his residence after a gathering at government offices.
He had argued the second incident was fabricated, and that the other complainant was misremembering their interaction from the first incident.
However, prosecutors contended that significant resemblances in the accounts of the individuals, who did not know one another, demonstrated they were being honest.
The panel deliberated for three days before returning the guilty verdicts.
Ward's resignation prompted a by-election in Kiama in autumn, which was won by the opposition party.
