A cultural leader in Western Australia’s Kimberley has been jailed for seven years for sexually assaulting two women.

Thomas Edgar, 68, appeared via video link at Perth District Court on Thursday where he was sentenced by Judge Linda Petrusa.

Edgar, who was previously a director on the Yawuru Prescribed Body Corporate, the membership organisation for Broome’s traditional owners, will be eligible for parole in January 2030.

His sentence was backdated to March 12.

In March, Edgar pleaded not guilty to the charges and faced a four-day trial in the Broome District Court.

Throughout the trial, the court heard from a number of witnesses including police officers who attended the incidents and hospital staff who treated the victims.

Jury delivers guilty verdict

During the trial, the court heard the first incident took place in September 9, 2021, at a Broome property where a woman who was staying with Edgar woke to find him sexually assaulting her.

A second woman was staying with Edgar at his Bilingurr property on September 17, 2022, and woke up in pain during the early hours of the morning as he lay next to her, the court heard.

She told the triple-0 operator “I think I’ve been touched in my sleep”.

In his closing statements, state prosecutor Cameron Henderson told the jury consent was the key issue of both charges.

While Edgar admitted he had sexually penetrated both women, his defence lawyer David Robinson said it was the 68-year-old who was the victim and the women had both initiated the sexual acts.

However, after a three-hour deliberation on March 14 this year, a jury found Edgar guilty on both counts of sexual assault.

Nyamba Buru Yawuru has since released a statement confirming Edgar had been removed as a director.