Ex- Down Under Politician Jailed for Above 60 Months for Sex Crimes

One-time public official convicted of sexually abusing two young men encountered via professional activities has been sentenced to 69 months in prison.

Case Details

The defendant, mid-forties, was in custody since July after a jury convicted him of attacking a victim and indecently assaulting another individual, in separate incidents in over two years.

The defendant served the seaside community of Kiama in the New South Wales government from 2011. He left his position as a political party minister when the claims came to light in 2021 but resisted resigning from his seat and won again in 2023.

Sentencing Details

Judge Kara Shead considered his visual impairment of sight disability in the ruling and found "no alternative punishment except for detention would be suitable".

The convicted individual, who participated via digital means at the courthouse, will undergo at minimum 45 months in prison before he can seek early release.

The court official said the legal system needs to "send a stern message to like-minded offenders that criminal acts of this nature will be met with serious punishments".

Additional Information

Additionally stated the defendant had "escaped justice for multiple years and experienced freedom without a programme or punishment for his crimes during that time".

Post-trial, the politician launched a failed appeal attempt to remain in parliament and resigned shortly before the congress could oust him.

His legal team has indicated before he plans to contest the ruling.

Trial Evidence

His extended court case in the state court heard that he brought a drunk teenager to his home in 2013 and indecently assaulted him repeatedly, despite the victim's efforts to oppose.

Subsequently, he raped a young office worker at his home after a gathering at parliament.

The defendant had claimed the 2015 rape never occurred, and that the additional accuser was misremembering their meeting from 2013.

The state's attorneys contended that significant resemblances in the testimonies of the victims, who had no connection to one another, proved they were accurate in their accounts.

A jury debated for multiple days before announcing the findings of guilt.

Ward's resignation caused a replacement vote in his constituency in autumn, which was secured by the challenger.