Former Australian Politician Sentenced for More Than Five Years for Sexual Offenses

A former Australian politician convicted of attacking two victims connected through his position received a sentence to nearly six years in detention.

Legal Proceedings

The defendant, mid-forties, has been in jail since July after the court convicted him of raping an individual and sexually abusing another individual, in separate incidents in 2013 then 2015.

The politician acted for the seaside community of the district in the state legislature from over a decade ago. He left his position as a government official when allegations came to light in 2021 but refused to quit the legislature and was re-elected in 2023.

Sentencing Details

The presiding officer Kara Shead evaluated the defendant's condition of vision impairment in the judgment and concluded "no different consequence other than incarceration could be considered".

Ward, who appeared via remote connection at the courthouse, will undergo at no less than 45 months in custody before he can seek conditional freedom.

Justice Shead stated the court needs to "issue a clear statement to similar individuals that illegal behaviors such as this will be subject to salutary penalties".

Case Background

Additionally stated the convicted man had "escaped justice for ten years and lived freely absent a treatment or penalty for the offenses during those years".

Post-trial, the politician launched a unsuccessful legal bid to continue in parliament and resigned just prior to the congress could oust him.

His legal team has previously said he plans to appeal the guilty verdict.

Case Facts

Ward's lengthy proceedings in the state court was told that he brought a intoxicated 18-year-old man to his home in 2013 and indecently assaulted him on multiple occasions, despite the victim's efforts to oppose.

In 2015, he raped a 24-year-old office worker at his property after an event at government offices.

He had claimed the second incident never occurred, and that the first victim was misremembering their meeting from the earlier year.

However, prosecutors maintained that notable parallels in the testimonies of the two men, who did not know one another, proved they were accurate in their accounts.

A jury considered for three days before announcing the findings of guilt.

Ward's resignation led to a by-election in Kiama in September, which was secured by the opposition party.