Former Comanchero bikie Ian Clissold fights assault, rape charges in Sydney court

Former Comanchero bikie Ian Clissold continues to fight allegations of rape, choking and assault in court, with his lawyer questioning the credibility of the complainant. Here’s the latest.

Former Comanchero bikie Ian Clissold.

A former Comanchero bikie who once dubbed himself as “the most dangerous man in Australia” continues to fight assault and rape charges in a western Sydney court.

Former Comanchero sergeant-at-arms Ian Clissold faced Penrith District Court on Thursday where his judge alone trial continued over multiple charges including three counts of sexual intercourse without consent, intentionally choking a person with recklessness and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

He is also charged with two counts of common assault, aggravated sexual assault – inflict actual bodily harm on victim, special aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence-weapon, and attempt to cause grievous bodily harm to person with intent.

He has maintained pleas of not guilty to the charges.

Clissold has been in Silverwater jail since 2023 when he was arrested by police over the allegations.

Ian Clissold faced Penrith District Court on Thursday.

At the time, detectives from Strike Force Muecke charged the 62-year-old after speaking with a woman over alleged incidents between 2017 and 2020.

It’s alleged Clissold sexually assaulted the woman in May 2017 and physically assaulted her in June 2020 during a break in at her home.

Ian Clissold has maintained a plea of not guilty to the charges.

In court on Thursday, the crown prosecutor told the court how the woman had been “scared of repercussions” and at least twice the woman woke up to Clissold having sex with her.

“He’s on top of her, he’s holding her down by body weight,” the prosecutor told the court.

“She’s being held down, he’s saying ‘I hope you get pregnant’.

“She was asleep and unable to consent.”

The prosecutor also pointed out that while the woman did have “consensual sex with Ian” at times, not every instance was mutually accepted.

Ian Clissold will return to court in July this year.

“Passive acceptance of the act does not equate consent,” she said.

However, Clissold’s lawyer told the court that during the trial, the woman had been “caught out not telling the truth”.

“Any witness who gave evidence, their evidence did not support the complainant in terms of materials,” he said.

“(They) directly contradicted the complainant on several key issues.

“The complainant was evasive, tailored her evidence and outright told some lies to this court.”

Clissold’s lawyer also stated that during the trial, the woman was “saying whatever she thought would assist her”.

“In one she knows a lot about him and can’t go to the police, or knows nothing about him,” he said.

Clissold will face Penrith District Court again on July 31.