🔗 Share this article Previous Down Under Lawmaker Jailed for Over Half a Decade for Sexual Offenses The convicted individual has become imprisoned for 69 months for the sexual abuse of two victims A former lawmaker sentenced of attacking two young men he met through professional activities received a sentence to 69 months in detention. Trial Information The defendant, mid-forties, was in jail since last summer after judicial panel convicted him of attacking an individual and sexually abusing another, in different occasions in 2013 then 2015. The defendant served the seaside community of the regional area in the state legislature from over a decade ago. He left his position as a political party cabinet member when accusations surfaced in 2021 but resisted resigning from parliament and won again in last year. Judgment Information Judge the court official evaluated Ward's disability of legal blindness in the ruling and found "no different consequence other than detention is appropriate". The convicted individual, who was present via remote connection at the judicial venue, will complete at least three years and nine months in custody before he can apply for early release. The court official said the legal system needs to "send a stern message to similar individuals that sexual offendings like these will be met with serious punishments". Further Details Additionally stated Ward had "escaped justice for a decade and lived freely free from a rehabilitation program or consequence for the offenses during those years". Following the verdict, the politician attempted a unsuccessful appeal attempt to continue in his position and left office just prior to the members could oust him. Defense attorneys has indicated before he plans to contest the conviction. Trial Evidence His nine-week trial in the NSW District Court learned that he brought a drunk teenager to his property in 2013 and indecently assaulted him repeatedly, despite his attempts to oppose. In 2015, he sexually assaulted a mid-twenties political staffer at his property after a function at the legislature. Ward had claimed the second incident was fabricated, and that the other complainant was inaccurate regarding their encounter from the first incident. However, prosecutors contended that significant resemblances in the testimonies of the individuals, who were unacquainted with one another, demonstrated they were accurate in their accounts. A jury debated for three days before returning the convictions. The political exit prompted a by-election in the district in September, which was secured by the challenger.