Police drop dog masturbation allegation against Alameddine crime clan member Trent Jeske

NSW Police were forced into an embarrassing backdown in court last week after their initial allegation against Alameddine crime clan member Trent Jeske was significantly watered down before the magistrate.

Incarcerated Alameddine clan associate Trent Jeske, pictured while he was at liberty, fronted Parramatta Court last week.

NSW Police have been forced into an embarrassing backdown in court after dropping a sensational dog sex act allegation levelled against an Alameddine crime clan member.

Trent Jeske, an alleged member of the Alameddine’s Ready 4 War (R4W) drug syndicate, fronted Parramatta Local Court last week set to fight a charge of committing an act of cruelty on an animal, stemming from an incident that occurred almost four-and-a-half years ago at a home in Shalvey.

His barrister, Brett Eurell, told the court the police case against his client centred on allegations Jeske had masturbated his pet Staffordshire Bull Terrier on the evening of August 9, 2019, causing it distress.

The court heard the prosecution case was set to consist of video footage of the alleged incident, along with expert evidence from a dog behaviouralist who was expected to provide an opinion on the animal’s apparent state of discomfort.

However, The Daily Telegraph can reveal police abandoned the sexual basis for the allegation just moments before the case was due to begin.

Jeske escaped without a conviction on a single count of committing an act of cruelty on an animal.

Instead, after a series of last-minute negotiations between the prosecutor, Mr Eurell and Jeske’s solicitor, Asem Taleb, police presented a handwritten document, titled ‘agreed facts’, that was just 42 words long.

“The defendant is the owner of a Staffordshire Bull Terrier (the dog),” the facts read.

“On 9 July 2019, at Shalvey, the offender patted the dog in a way that caused it to demonstrate an appeasement behaviour, which can be consistent with discomfort or distress.”

No further explanation was given in court as to what an “appeasement behaviour” was, what actions the dog may have performed to indicate any sign of distress or discomfort, or where on the animal’s body Jeske had patted him to elicit such a response.

Jeske pleaded guilty to the animal cruelty charge on the basis of the agreed facts, although Mr Eurell stressed the plea was “one of convenience” and said the behaviour was at the lowest end possible for this type of offending.

Magistrate Rami Attia dismissed the charge without recording a conviction against Jeske after the police prosecutor said he would not oppose such an order.

Meanwhile, the court heard three more charges involving allegations Jeske sexually touched two men without their consent were formally withdrawn before the start of the hearing.

While no reason was given for the about-face by police, Mr Eurell flagged a possible future application for costs on account of the botched prosecution.

If successful, police would be required to pay Jeske’s legal bill relating to the failed charges.

Jeske is currently in custody serving a nine-month jail sentence after being found guilty of firearm and affray charges at a local court hearing earlier this year.

He is also on remand for serious drug supply charges linked to his alleged involvement with the R4W drug syndicate.He has pleaded not guilty to those charges and is set to fight them at trial.

Jeske was supported in court by his mother, Jeanette.

Mr Taleb declined to comment on behalf of his client when approached outside court.