Ex- Australian Public Figure Imprisoned for Above Five Years for Criminal Acts

One-time Australian politician convicted of attacking two victims connected through his position received a sentence to nearly six years in jail.

Trial Information

The defendant, forty-four, has been in custody since mid-year after judicial panel found him guilty of raping an individual and sexually abusing another individual, in separate incidents in 2013 and 2015.

Ward acted for the coastal town of Kiama in the state parliament from the year 2011. He resigned as a political party cabinet member when accusations came to light in 2021 but refused to quit parliament and won again in 2023.

Sentencing Details

The presiding officer the judicial figure took into account the defendant's condition of vision impairment in the ruling and found "no alternative punishment other than detention would be suitable".

The defendant, who was present via video-link at the judicial venue, will serve at least three years and nine months in detention before he can seek early release.

The judge declared the judicial system needs to "send a stern message to potential criminals that illegal behaviors such as this will be faced with significant consequences".

Additional Information

She also said the defendant had "escaped justice for a decade and experienced freedom absent a treatment or punishment for his crimes during that period".

Post-trial, the individual initiated a unsuccessful legal bid to continue in his position and left office just prior to the members could expel him.

Defense attorneys has stated earlier he aims to contest the ruling.

Trial Evidence

Ward's nine-week trial in the NSW District Court learned that he invited a inebriated 18-year-old man to his home in 2013 and sexually abused him on multiple occasions, despite the victim's efforts to oppose.

In 2015, he attacked a mid-twenties government employee at his property after an event at government offices.

Ward had claimed the 2015 rape didn't happen, and that the first victim was inaccurate regarding their meeting from the first incident.

The state's attorneys maintained that notable parallels in the statements of the individuals, who did not know one another, demonstrated they were being honest.

A jury considered for multiple days before announcing the convictions.

The political exit caused a by-election in his constituency in last fall, which was claimed by the Labor candidate.