Paul Anthony Wardell appealing conviction and sentence for abusing Shania Madden and Ashley Whiting

In October, he was handed a 14-year jail term for abusing two teenage girls. Now, Wardell is set to appeal the jury’s decision and the sentence.

Disgraced former horse trainer, breeder and riding coach Paul Anthony Wardell has indicated he will appeal his conviction and sentence for abusing two teenage girls in his care.

Wardell, 68, was sentenced in October to a maximum 14 years’ jail with a non-parole period of nine years.

A jury found him guilty of 23 charges in September relating to two young women – four counts of aggravated indecent assault on one victim and 13 counts of aggravated sexual assault and six counts of aggravated indecent assault on another.

His victims, Ashley Whiting and Shania Madden, were widely supported when they publicly outed themselves earlier this year by allowing The Newcastle News to identify them in court proceedings.

Wardell had spent decades with a revered reputation among Australia’s horse fraternities, was a sought-after instructor to budding young riders and a highly-acclaimed judge at the country’s biggest shows.

But the jury found he had abused both girls over years – Ashley Whiting between 2012 and 2014 and Shania Madden between 2017 and 2018.

Gloucester stockman and horse trainer Paul Anthony Wardell’s legal team has filed a notice of an intention to appeal his conviction and sentence for sexually abusing two teenage girls under his authority. Photo: Facebook

Some of the offending occurred in a horse float while they were away at shows and events while Wardell had also preyed on Shania in a unit near Wardell’s homestead.

“The victims were young women, eager to pursue careers in the horse industry and the offender was a well established figure in that industry,’’ Judge Jonathon Priestley said in sentencing.

“The victims were under his authority, and often without company other than himself.

“The age of the victims when they first came into contact with the offender shows that they were young people, and based on their background, with little worldly experience.

Gloucester stockman and horse trainer Paul Anthony Wardell. Photo: Facebook

“The victims were, as a result, vulnerable to the unlawful acts of the offender.’’

Wardell had maintained his innocence throughout the court process and shook his head when the sentence was handed down.

The NSW Supreme Court has confirmed it has received a notice of intention to appeal from Wardell’s legal team on November 9.

A date has yet to be set for the appeal.