Clement Gilbert sentenced for attacking Paddy Gibson’s Arncliffe home

A man with swastikas, the word ‘Nazi’, skulls and various guns tattooed on his body has been sentenced for the violent attack on the home of a anti-racism activist.

An alcohol marshall with swastikas, the word ‘Nazi’, skulls and various guns tattooed on his body and police believe hold “right wing political extremist beliefs” has been sentenced for attacking the home of a Black Lives Matter and Aboriginal rights activist.

Clement James Gilbert, 33, of Ryde, was convicted on Wednesday after he pleaded guilty to intimidation and affray in Sutherland Local Court.

Agreed facts tendered to court said police believed Gilbert along with Desmond Liddington and Maxwell Ferrer targeted Padriac ‘Paddy’ Gibson due to his political beliefs and activities.

Liddington – who sports an AK47 tattoo on his bald head with the word RAHOWA, referring to the neo-Nazi concept of a “racial holy war” — is the leader of white supremacist group called Firm 22.

Liddington was sentenced to two years and six months in prison with a non-parole period of 18 months.

Clement Gilbert was sentenced for his role in an attack on a social activist. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

Maxwell Ferrer pleaded guilty to intimidation and affray and was placed on a 12-month community corrections order.

The agreed facts said investigators were watching Liddington and Gilbert, who lives in Ryde, drive around Colyton on the morning of December 4, 2021.

Desmond Liddington was sentenced for his role in the attack. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

About 7.30pm, CCTV recorded the same car in Mr Gibson’s street before Liddington, Gilbert and Ferrer walked up to the activist’s house.

The men – who are bald or had closely shaved heads with Gilbert wearing a T-shirt with a Eureka Stockade cross – knocked on Mr Gibson’s front door.

One of the men said, “is this Paddy?” We want to have a word with Paddy” before Mr Gibson replied, “no, Paddy is not here”.

According to the agreed facts, he believed they were right-wing extremists with the neo-Nazi skinhead movement based on his previous experiences.

Paddy Gibson, an anti-racism activist, was the victim of an ideologically motivated attack. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

Mr Gibson and his wife retreated to the back of his house fearing they would be assaulted and called Triple 0 before the men continued to bang on the door and break glass.

The men tore the security screen from the front window, smashed a window and overturned a glass table, before they left the house in the same car.

In court, defence lawyer Paul McGirr said his client, who works as an alcohol service marshall at the Royal Oak Hotel in Lidcombe, had mental health issues and submitted his client was intoxicated at the time.

Clement Gilbert has a number of tattoos, some of which are swastika and the word ‘Nazi’. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

Mr McGirr claimed Gilbert was not aware of Liddington and Ferrer’s motivations, adding he was “a cog in the wheel” and not the leader of the assault.

Magistrate Philip Stewart noted a psychiatric report said Gilbert claimed he was “used for his appearance” during the attack and his identity was given to police by one of his co-accused.

The court heard Gilbert acknowledged both his co-offenders were part of a right wing political group but he did not share their views, adding he became friends with them to “improve his business”.

Desmond Liddington is the leader of white supremacist group called Firm 22. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

Mr Stewart said there was no evidence to support Gilbert was a member of Firm 22 nor any other right wing political groups or knew of Mr Gibson, but noted there were strong suspicions of his involvement in right wing political extremism as a result of his tattoos.

The court heard Gilbert was in the process of removing his tattoos.

“Although I am unable to find that this is a ‘race hate crime’, I am satisfied that there was a degree of planning to target ‘a person’ and that the offenders travelled approximately 50km from western Sydney to confront their target,” he said.

Mr Stewart accepted Gilbert had a traumatic upbringing that led to depression and alcohol abuse disorder.

Gilbert was convicted and sentenced to an 18-month community correction order.