Dylan Anthony Ward, Ipswich, sentenced for $60k sex assault extortion scheme

An Ipswich man has been jailed after his partner allegedly concocted a cutthroat $60k extortion scheme that involved threatening to make sex assault accusations against the victim.

Flinders View resident Dylan Anthony Ward has been sentenced for his role in a $60k sex assault extortion scheme.

An Ipswich man who was involved in a $60k sex assault extortion scheme did a complete 180 behind bars and discovered God, a court has heard.

Flinders View resident Dylan Anthony Ward, 31, pleaded guilty in Ipswich District Court on March 7, 2023, to one charge of extortion.

It is alleged his girlfriend, Flinders View resident Taleah Jade Fagen, 30, concocted the extortion scheme while Ward was in jail for other offending in 2021.

The court heard Ms Fagen had allegedly threatened the victim that she would report to police that he had sexually assaulted her if he didn’t give her $5000.

The victim paid her the money – then another $5000, and another $10,000 following further alleged threats.

Judge Ken Barlow KC said Ms Fagen had allegedly told the victim that Ward was about to get out of jail, and would come to the victim’s house and “cause issues” if he didn’t pay up.

Ward was released from jail soon after, and the victim paid them another $35,000 in increments over the following weeks.

Ward sent the victim messages in that time, assuring him he had nothing to do with the scheme and said Ms Fagen would write up a guarantee that she would stop asking for money.

It’s alleged Ms Fagen continued to demand more money, however – forcing the victim to take out a loan.

Judge Barlow said Ward was “well and truly involved” at that stage, noting Ward had offered the victim more assurances – with the condition he paid them a further $15,000.

The court heard Ward still asked for another $5000 after that, and told the victim he was “the only person that could stop everything”.

Ward, and allegedly Ms Fagen, continued to make threats and demands to the victim until he finally went to the police.

Judge Barlow noted the couple allegedly attended the victim’s home and workplace on the day he went to police.

Between November 1, 2021, and March 17, 2022, the couple allegedly extorted a total $62,000 from the victim.

Judge Barlow said Ward had an extensive criminal history, and that this offending was aggravated by the fact he was on parole at the time.

The court heard Ward had returned to custody after the offending was uncovered and spent 183 days in presentence custody.

Judge Barlow noted that, during that time, Ward “became a believer in the Christian religion” and had abstained from drug use.

“I hope that that is a genuine new belief … because that might help you with the moral support that you might need,” he said.

Ward was sentenced to two years and six months imprisonment, with immediate parole eligibility and 183 days of presentence custody declared time-served.

Ms Fagen is due to face court for her alleged role in the matter later this year.