Former Australian Lawmaker Jailed for Over Five Years for Sex Crimes
A former lawmaker found guilty of assaulting two victims he met through work has been sentenced to 69 months in detention.
Trial Information
The defendant, forty-four, was in custody since last summer after a jury found him guilty of sexually assaulting an individual and attacking another, in different occasions in 2013 then 2015.
The defendant represented the oceanfront municipality of the regional area in the NSW government from the year 2011. He stepped down as a political party minister when allegations surfaced in 2021 but declined to leave his seat and returned to office in 2023.
Sentencing Details
The presiding officer the judicial figure took into account his visual impairment of sight disability in her sentence and found "no different consequence other than detention would be suitable".
Ward, who was present via video-link at Parramatta District Court, will complete at minimum 45 months in detention before he can request early release.
The court official declared the legal system needs to "send a stern message to like-minded offenders that criminal acts such as this will be subject to serious punishments".
Case Background
She also said the defendant had "escaped justice for a decade and enjoyed a life absent a treatment or penalty for his actions during that period".
Following the verdict, Ward attempted a unsuccessful legal bid to stay in parliament and left office just prior to the legislature could expel him.
His legal team has stated earlier he intends to contest the guilty verdict.
Case Facts
Ward's extended court case in the judicial venue heard that he brought a drunk 18-year-old man to his property in the first incident and indecently assaulted him repeatedly, despite his attempts to oppose.
Subsequently, he attacked a mid-twenties office worker at his property after a gathering at parliament.
Ward had argued the later assault was fabricated, and that the first victim was misremembering their interaction from the first incident.
But the prosecution argued that striking similarities in the accounts of the individuals, who had no connection to one another, demonstrated they were accurate in their accounts.
The panel considered for three days before announcing the guilty verdicts.
His departure caused a by-election in the district in last fall, which was won by the Labor candidate.
