James Hayward: Former Nationals MP jailed for sexually abusing young girl for own sexual gratification

Former Upper House MP James Hayward has been sentenced to two years and nine months behind bars for sexually abusing a young girl, with a WA judge describing his actions as a gross abuse of trust. As Justice Stephen Lemonis read out just how long he would spend in prison, the ex-Nationals parliamentarian stared blankly ahead as some members of his family wept in the public gallery. The 54-year-old had denied at trial that he forced the child to touch him on two separate occasions between January 2019 and November 2021 when she was aged between six and seven years old, claiming the accusations were an “absolute lie” despite writing a suicide note to his wife in which he admitted to offending against the girl. In that note he said he felt he had “no other choice” but to take his own life because he was expecting to be charged with the offences over the “coming days” adding “which I have done” and a sad face emoji. “I know you repeatedly warned me and it is so disappointing this has happened,” he wrote. “Given my position in Parliament and the public scrutiny that would come with a trial… it seems tidier to take another way out. “I am so sorry I have let you down. “I hope you both can forgive me.” Claims against Hayward first emerged in November 2021 - the same year he was elected to parliament - when the girl was caught by her older sister watching a sexualised version of Family Guy on her iPad. When she asked the youngster who showed her how to look for pornography she said it was Hayward. She then asked her if he did anything else. The trial was told the former TV producer used to read stories to the girl when he put her to bed and would sometimes get under the covers. In her evidence, the girl said it was during a bedtime ritual that Hayward put her “hand into his knickers” claiming the first alleged incident took place in his house and the second at her house, however she could not give exact dates. She also claimed Hayward showed her how to search for “sex” by typing it into the search browser of her iPad. Hayward was charged in relation to that claim and a further indecent dealing offence but the jury acquitted him of those charges. During his sentencing hearing in the WA District Court, his lawyer Tom Percy KC argued his client’s offending was at the low end of the scale saying he only offended twice but had “many opportunities” after and did not offend. He also argued Hayward had suffered extra-curial punishment because of the intense publicity he was subjected to. And he revealed the former Nationals MP had been sent death threats, was abused on the streets and that his son had been bullied. Prosecutor Sean Stocks argued Hayward’s offending was much higher than low, telling the court his actions were a significant breach of trust. He said while there was no grooming of the girl, like in many other child sex offence cases, its absence was not mitigatory because of his ties to the family. “He could offend with impunity,” he added. Mr Stocks argued Hayward was prepared to shatter the relationship he had with the girl’s parents for his own sexual gratification and warranted a “proper punishment”. In sentencing Hayward, Justice Lemonis took into account his personal circumstances and that he had good prospects of rehabilitation thanks to his strong family support. But he said there was no indication Hayward had any level of insight into his offending which he said elevated the level of risk. He also said his offending was a gross abuse of trust and had affected his victim and her family. And he said he did not accept the media scrutiny was a form of extra-curial punishment because he had chosen to run for parliament a year after he committed the crimes. He jailed him for two years and nine months, made him eligible for parole after serving half and backdated his sentence to August.