Former Australian Politician Jailed for More Than 60 Months for Criminal Acts
One-time lawmaker convicted of attacking two young men encountered via professional activities was given to nearly six years in jail.
Trial Information
The defendant, 44, remained in jail since July after the court determined his guilt of sexually assaulting a victim and attacking another individual, in different occasions in 2013 and 2015.
Ward acted for the oceanfront municipality of the regional area in the state legislature from 2011. He left his position as a government minister when the claims surfaced in 2021 but refused to quit the legislature and returned to office in last year.
Sentencing Details
Justice Kara Shead evaluated the defendant's condition of sight disability in her sentence and found "no other penalty besides incarceration is appropriate".
The convicted individual, who participated via remote connection at the judicial venue, will undergo at no less than nearly four years in prison before he can apply for conditional freedom.
The judge stated the judicial system needs to "send a stern message to potential criminals that sexual offendings like these will be faced with salutary penalties".
Case Background
She also said Ward had "avoided punishment for multiple years and lived freely absent a programme or punishment for his actions during that period".
Following the verdict, the politician attempted a rejected court challenge to remain in his position and left office moments before the congress could oust him.
Representatives has stated earlier he intends to challenge the ruling.
Trial Evidence
His lengthy proceedings in the NSW District Court was told that he brought a inebriated 18-year-old man to his residence in 2013 and sexually abused him on multiple occasions, despite the victim's efforts to fight back.
Two years later, he sexually assaulted a 24-year-old government employee at his home after an event at government offices.
Ward had claimed the 2015 rape didn't happen, and that the first victim was misremembering their meeting from the earlier year.
The state's attorneys maintained that striking similarities in the statements of the victims, who had no connection to each other, proved they were being honest.
The panel debated for three days before announcing the guilty verdicts.
His departure prompted a replacement vote in his constituency in September, which was claimed by the challenger.
