Latest news with #predatorybehavior
ABC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Young Liberals expel Gareth Ward as party announces Kiama candidate
Disgraced former MP Gareth Ward has been stripped of life membership for the young Liberals club he was once the president of, nearly three weeks after being found guilty of sex crimes. The University of Wollongong's Liberal Club suspended Ward's membership in 2021 when he was first charged. On Thursday night, in its first meeting since Ward was convicted by a jury of sexually abusing two young men, the club expelled its first life member entirely. "It's abhorrent, its predatory," current president Oliver Griffiths said of the crimes. "How are we supposed to be a flourishing Liberal club if those kinds of actions are condoned?" Mr Griffiths said Ward had maintained close ties to the club up until his suspension and had used it to recruit young Liberal members. The move came ahead of NSW Liberal leader Mark Speakman travelling to Nowra on Friday to announce former Shoalhaven councillor Serena Copley as the party's candidate for the Kiama by-election. The by-election, triggered after Ward resigned from office ahead of a bid to expel him from parliament, will be held on September 13. Mr Speakman acknowledged the race would be challenging, given Ward held the seat for the Liberals for 11 years, but said the party wanted to give voters a choice. "We are the underdogs, but I am determined to take it up to Labor because people in the Kiama electorate deserve to have a choice and deserve to have their say after two and a bit years of a government that has turned its back on that electorate," he said. At the 2023 election, the Liberal primary vote in Kiama was just 12 per cent, with Ward winning the seat as an independent not long after being expelled from the party. Ms Copley said Ward had been a "prominent figure in the local political landscape for a long time" and acknowledged she had on occasion met him at council functions. She said her focus was now entirely on the community and delivering for residents into the future. "We have to continue to improve services and fight for what people aren't getting at the moment," she said. "They're being forgotten by the Labor government. "It's imperative that we put our community first, and that's what I am 100 per cent focused on, delivering for my community." When asked how she would win back voters' trust after Ward's tenure, Ms Copley said: "I can only put myself forward and ask the community to look at my track record." Ms Copley chose a North Nowra park location to highlight the work she had done for the community during her time as a councillor. Pointing to the playground behind her, where her grandson played on a swing, she said it was previously just a vacant reserve. Four weeks of campaigning will ramp up from next week, with the Greens set to announce a candidate on Monday. Katelin McInerney will contest for Labor and Community Independent Kate Dezarnaulds will also run, just months after a failed bid to contest the federal seat of Gilmore.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Man jailed for sexually abusing teenage girl
A man has been jailed after admitting multiple sexual offences involving a teenage girl. Martin Steele, of High Street North, Tiffield, pleaded guilty to six offences of engaging in sexual activity with a child and one of sexual communication with a child at Northampton Crown Court in July. At a sentencing hearing at the same court on Friday, the 63-year-old was handed a prison term of six years and nine months. Det Con Kirstie Brooks of Northamptonshire Police described Steele as a "very predatory individual". 'Haunt me' The offences took place over a sustained period in 2024, but only came to light when a third party reported concerns to police. During this time, he sent numerous text messages of a sexual nature to the victim, frequently commented on her physical appearance, and encouraged her to take part in sexual acts as part of what he described as their "relationship". The court also imposed a sexual harm prevention order and a restraining order preventing any contact with the victim. A statement from the survivor, read in court, detailed the lasting impact on her. "This crime will be something I remember for the rest of my life and will haunt me every day," it said. "Each day I'm getting stronger, but I will never forget what I was put through for years without seeing anything wrong with it." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Related internet links Northamptonshire Police
BBC News
4 days ago
- BBC News
Tiffield man jailed for sexual offences with girl
A man has been jailed after admitting multiple sexual offences involving a teenage Steele, of High Street North, Tiffield, pleaded guilty to six offences of engaging in sexual activity with a child and one of sexual communication with a child at Northampton Crown Court in a sentencing hearing at the same court on Friday, the 63-year-old was handed a prison term of six years and nine Con Kirstie Brooks of Northamptonshire Police described Steele as a "very predatory individual". 'Haunt me' The offences took place over a sustained period in 2024, but only came to light when a third party reported concerns to this time, he sent numerous text messages of a sexual nature to the victim, frequently commented on her physical appearance, and encouraged her to take part in sexual acts as part of what he described as their "relationship".The court also imposed a sexual harm prevention order and a restraining order preventing any contact with the victim.A statement from the survivor, read in court, detailed the lasting impact on her."This crime will be something I remember for the rest of my life and will haunt me every day," it said. "Each day I'm getting stronger, but I will never forget what I was put through for years without seeing anything wrong with it." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
CTV News
06-08-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Alberta government cracks down on predatory tow-truck drivers with crash scene invite rule
The Alberta government says it is taking action against predators in the tow truck industry who coerce drivers while they are vulnerable. It announced new rules on Wednesday which take effect on Friday, including a 200-metre 'exclusion' zone which towers are not allowed to enter without invitation. Ignoring the rule could result in a $1,000 fine. Previously, the province did not have rules specifically addressing predatory behaviour like towing without consent and failing to provide necessary information to drivers. In a press release, the government said a provincial standard would help mitigate rising insurance premiums resulting from excessive towing fees. The action mirrors that taken by the City of Calgary recently. This is a breaking news story. More to come…
BBC News
17-06-2025
- BBC News
Northamptonshire officer fired for predatory conduct, says panel
A former special constable would have been dismissed after he had "predatory" sexual contact with two intoxicated women, a police misconduct panel Lynam, who resigned from the Northamptonshire Police in 2024, was found to have engaged in sexual activity with two females in circumstances "where he knew that they had been drinking".It also found he "knew that neither had met him before and [he] took deliberate steps to be left alone with them".Mr Lynam did not attend the hearing which determined he had committed gross misconduct. The hearing, which took place on 4-5 June, heard the incidents happened in February 2022 when the officer was on a night out with colleagues at Bar Rumba in Northampton town to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the panel's report said he met two women, and walked them to their hotel room in company with other was alleged he had sexual intercourse with one and sexual contact with the other when he was left in their hotel room alone with them. The panel found that Mr Lynam knew that both women were intoxicated due to their difficulty walking on the way back to the hotel and one being added the former officer would have known that one of the women was vulnerable, as she informed him of her mental health condition and that she lived in supported former officer maintained the sickness was faked and all of the sexual activity was the panel said Mr Lynam "acted in a predatory way that was discreditable and lacked integrity".It added it "found the former officer's misconduct to be deplorable".Northamptonshire Police conducted a criminal investigation into the matter, but the Crown Prosecution Service decided that no further action would be taken. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
