Former Down Under Lawmaker Sentenced for More Than Five Years for Criminal Acts
An ex- lawmaker sentenced of assaulting two victims connected through work received a sentence to 69 months in detention.
Case Details
The former official, mid-forties, was in custody since mid-year after the court found him guilty of sexually assaulting a victim and indecently assaulting a second person, in different occasions in 2013 then 2015.
Ward served the coastal town of the regional area in the NSW legislature from the year 2011. He resigned as a political party cabinet member when the claims came to light in recent years but refused to quit the legislature and was re-elected in 2023.
Sentencing Details
Judge the court official considered the defendant's condition of sight disability in the judgment and determined "no alternative punishment except for imprisonment could be considered".
The convicted individual, who participated via remote connection at Parramatta District Court, will undergo at minimum 45 months in detention before he can request conditional freedom.
The court official declared the court needs to "deliver a strong warning to like-minded offenders that illegal behaviors such as this will be met with significant consequences".
Case Background
The judge added the convicted man had "escaped justice for a decade and experienced freedom absent a programme or consequence for his crimes during those years".
Following the verdict, the individual attempted a unsuccessful court challenge to continue in parliament and left office moments before the congress could oust him.
Representatives has indicated before he intends to contest the guilty verdict.
Case Facts
The defendant's extended court case in the state court heard that he invited a intoxicated 18-year-old man to his property in the first incident and sexually abused him on multiple occasions, despite the victim's efforts to fight back.
Two years later, he attacked a mid-twenties office worker at his property after a function at the legislature.
He had argued the 2015 rape didn't happen, and that the other complainant was confused about their encounter from the first incident.
However, prosecutors maintained that significant resemblances in the accounts of the individuals, who were unacquainted with the other, proved they were being honest.
Court members considered for 72 hours before delivering the guilty verdicts.
His departure caused a replacement vote in the district in September, which was claimed by the challenger.
