Ex- Australian Politician Jailed for Above Half a Decade for Sex Crimes

One-time lawmaker convicted of assaulting two individuals connected through his position was given to 69 months in prison.

Legal Proceedings

The former official, mid-forties, has been in prison since last summer after a jury found him guilty of raping a victim and sexually abusing another individual, in different occasions in 2013 then 2015.

The politician represented the oceanfront municipality of Kiama in the NSW legislature from the year 2011. He resigned as a Liberal Party official when the claims came to light in recent years but declined to leave parliament and was re-elected in last year.

Judgment Information

The presiding officer the court official took into account the defendant's condition of sight disability in the ruling and concluded "no different consequence except for detention could be considered".

The convicted individual, who appeared via video-link at the courthouse, will serve at no less than nearly four years in detention before he can request early release.

The judge declared the judicial system needs to "issue a clear statement to similar individuals that sexual offendings like these will be faced with serious punishments".

Additional Information

She also said the convicted man had "avoided punishment for a decade and experienced freedom without a programme or penalty for his actions during that period".

Following the verdict, the individual attempted a failed legal bid to continue in parliament and left office moments before the congress could expel him.

Defense attorneys has stated earlier he plans to challenge the ruling.

Trial Evidence

Ward's extended court case in the NSW District Court was told that he asked a inebriated 18-year-old man to his property in 2013 and indecently assaulted him repeatedly, despite resistance attempts to resist.

Subsequently, he attacked a 24-year-old political staffer at his property after a gathering at parliament.

Ward had argued the later assault never occurred, and that the other complainant was confused about their interaction from 2013.

However, prosecutors maintained that striking similarities in the accounts of the individuals, who had no connection to one another, showed they were telling the truth.

The panel debated for three days before delivering the findings of guilt.

His departure led to a replacement vote in Kiama in last fall, which was won by the opposition party.