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A former public official convicted of sexually abusing two individuals connected through work was given to 69 months in prison.

Trial Information

The former official, forty-four, remained in prison since mid-year after the court found him guilty of raping a victim and sexually abusing another, in separate incidents in 2013 then 2015.

The politician served the coastal town of the district in the New South Wales legislature from 2011. He stepped down as a government cabinet member when the claims came to light in recent years but declined to leave the legislature and won again in 2023.

Sentencing Details

The presiding officer Kara Shead considered the defendant's condition of legal blindness in the judgment and concluded "no different consequence besides imprisonment would be suitable".

The defendant, who appeared via remote connection at the judicial venue, will undergo at minimum nearly four years in detention before he can apply for early release.

The court official declared the judicial system needs to "issue a clear statement to like-minded offenders that sexual offendings of this nature will be met with salutary penalties".

Case Background

She also said the defendant had "avoided punishment for multiple years and lived freely absent a rehabilitation program or punishment for the offenses during that period".

Post-trial, the politician initiated a unsuccessful court challenge to continue in parliament and left office just prior to the congress could remove him.

Representatives has previously said he aims to appeal the guilty verdict.

Trial Evidence

Ward's lengthy proceedings in the NSW District Court learned that he brought a intoxicated young adult to his home in 2013 and indecently assaulted him three times, despite his attempts to oppose.

In 2015, he sexually assaulted a mid-twenties office worker at his property after a function at government offices.

Ward had argued the later assault was fabricated, and that the first victim was inaccurate regarding their interaction from 2013.

However, prosecutors contended that striking similarities in the statements of the victims, who were unacquainted with the other, demonstrated they were accurate in their accounts.

A jury deliberated for multiple days before announcing the guilty verdicts.

Ward's resignation caused a by-election in Kiama in last fall, which was won by the Labor candidate.