WA Politician on Trial for Sex Crimes Presents Letter to Court

A Perth court has heard the details of a letter written by a West Australian politician who’s on trial for child sex abuse charges. 

James Dorrin Hayward, 53, has pleaded not guilty to four charges connected to the alleged sexual abuse of an eight-year-old girl over a two-year period. 

It’s alleged the former church pastor had the girl indecently touch him on several occasions and showed her how to access pornography.

The letter admitted the alleged abuse crimes to the MP’s wife, which prosecutor Sean Stocks has alleged was a suicide note. 

The court was also told that Howard emailed the letter to his wife a week after he was reported to the police. They also heard that the wife then proceeded to contact Western Australian police as well. 

“I regret not being able to talk to you about this in person. ” Hayward wrote. “In the coming days, I expect to be accused of child sex assault in relation to (a child), which I have done.”

He said killing himself would spare his family and wife harassment due to his profile as a politician and the media scrutiny that would follow. 

He also wrote in the letter that he hoped his wife would forgive him.

“I am so sorry I have let you down, and I hope at some point you … forgive me.

“I love you … to the moon and back.”

Lawyer Claims Letter Not An Admission of Guilt

Hayward’s lawyer has maintained the letter is not an admission of guilt, saying it was written during a stressful time in his life. 

The lawyer also said that, at the time, Hayward was facing the failure of a business and owed hundreds of thousands of dollars. 

“Coupled with the ongoing financial disaster surrounding him, he felt he just didn’t have the strength to deal with those consequences,” Mr. Percy said.

Hayward still sits as an independent in the state’s upper house. He stepped down from The Nationals after the allegations surfaced and charges were laid in 2021. 

The alleged victim’s mother recently spoke in court, denying allegations she withheld information. She denied initially communicating with Hayward about the allegations before going to police, something she later admitted under oath. 

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