Previous Down Under Public Figure Sentenced for More Than Five Years for Sex Crimes
An ex- public official found guilty of attacking two young men encountered via work has been sentenced to 69 months in detention.
Case Details
The defendant, forty-four, has been in prison since July after the court determined his guilt of sexually assaulting one man and sexually abusing a second person, in separate incidents in 2013 and 2015.
Ward acted for the seaside community of Kiama in the state legislature from over a decade ago. He stepped down as a political party minister when allegations emerged in 2021 but declined to leave the legislature and won again in 2023.
Court Ruling
The presiding officer the judicial figure considered his visual impairment of vision impairment in the ruling and concluded "no different consequence other than incarceration would be suitable".
The defendant, who participated via remote connection at the judicial venue, will complete at least three years and nine months in detention before he can request parole.
Justice Shead declared the judicial system needs to "send a stern message to like-minded offenders that illegal behaviors like these will be subject to significant consequences".
Additional Information
She also said the defendant had "escaped justice for ten years and experienced freedom without a rehabilitation program or penalty for his actions during those years".
Post-trial, Ward attempted a unsuccessful court challenge to remain in his position and left office shortly before the legislature could expel him.
His legal team has stated earlier he aims to contest the guilty verdict.
Incident Details
His lengthy proceedings in the judicial venue heard that he brought a inebriated 18-year-old man to his residence in 2013 and attacked him on multiple occasions, despite resistance attempts to resist.
Subsequently, he attacked a young office worker at his residence after a function at parliament.
The defendant had maintained the second incident was fabricated, and that the other complainant was misremembering their encounter from the earlier year.
However, prosecutors contended that significant resemblances in the accounts of the victims, who were unacquainted with one another, showed they were telling the truth.
The panel deliberated for 72 hours before announcing the findings of guilt.
Ward's resignation led to a by-election in Kiama in September, which was claimed by the challenger.
