By Josefine Ganko and Perry Duffin
An inner west IT consultant has been charged with multiple rapes against one woman over an allegedly “coercive” three-year period, and of choking a second woman he met on an alternative dating app.
In March, police launched an investigation into a series of alleged domestic violence and sexual assaults committed against a 35-year-old woman between 2021 and 2023, when they discovered a link to another alleged assault.
Police will allege the same man also assaulted a 52-year-old woman he met on a dating app in March 2024 by choking her after consensual activity.
Daniel McCluskie was arrested in Russell Lea on Wednesday morning, after police executed a search warrant at his home.
He was later charged with 15 domestic violence-related offences, including eight counts of sexual intercourse without consent and three counts of choking without consent.
Further charges relate to the recording of intimate images without consent, stalking and kidnapping.
McCluskie appeared before Parramatta Local Court on Thursday, where police warned he was facing “very serious” allegations.
“We have concerns this is coercive-controlling behaviour throughout the relationship (with the first woman),” prosecutor Rob Kury told the court.
“I have concerns that, if he is granted any form of bail, members of the community may be at risk from Mr McCluskie.”
The court heard McCluskie met his second alleged victim on the dating app Feeld, which is used by people into swinging and kink.
McCluskie’s barrister, Rebecca Mitchell, said the offences against the first woman allegedly took place in Melbourne and Surfers Paradise, meaning they fall outside the jurisdiction of NSW Police.
Further, Mitchell argued McCluskie had made no contact with his first accuser for two years, showing he posed no risk to her safety.
Mitchell said police had produced little proof of McCluskie’s alleged crimes, no medical evidence of the alleged sexual crimes or digital files to substantiate one charge of making an intimate recording without consent.
“There’s no digital or forensic evidence, no suggestion (the first woman) complained to anyone aside from police,” Mitchell said.
McCluskie was granted bail but banned from using a smartphone and the dating apps. He is also banned from travelling interstate.
Police lodged a bail-stay application, a rarely used provision which will force McCluskie to stay in custody until Tuesday while they consider appealing the decision to release him on bail.
McCluskie stayed silent throughout the proceeding on Thursday, responding only with “Yes, your honour” when questioned.
His case will return to court in July and September.
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732).
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