Jason Alexander Clare charged with raping woman and compelling her in act of bestiality

A man has been accused of raping a woman and forcing her to participate in an act of bestiality with a neighbour's pet, but his lawyers ‘can’t find the dog’.

Jason Alexander Clare allegedly raped a woman and forced her to perform an act of bestiality in April this year. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dean Martin

An Adelaide man accused of raping a woman and forcing her to participate in an act of bestiality with a neighbour’s pet will contest the charges because “they can't find the dog”, a court has heard.

Jason Alexander Clare, 22, was charged with engaging in sexual intercourse with a person without consent and compelling a person to engage in an act of bestiality, alleged to have occurred on April 1 this year in the Adelaide CBD.

In the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday, Christina Chrisakis, for the defence, argued her client had been in custody for several months on a charge that may not proceed.

After reading the complainant’s police statement, she said the woman’s version of events “made no sense” and the allegations against Mr Clare would be contested.

“The prosecution will have considerable difficulty proving the charges,” the lawyer said.

“She isn't able to particularise what occurred on that occasion; she jumps back and forth and I appreciate she does have some mental health issues but I dare say she may not come up to proof.

“There are statements from a number of witnesses who allegedly had been spoken to by the complainant and were advised of what happened — none of who contacted police or raised any alarm.”

Ms Chrisakis said the complainant claimed in her statement she was spiked with acid and that Mr Clare called out to a neighbour who brought over a dog and it later “somehow has gone away”.

“There’s no dog. They can’t find the dog. She said it was the neighbour’s but there is no neighbour with that dog.

“The story doesn't make sense.”

Jason Alexander Clare appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dean Martin

The court heard the complainant alleged Mr Clare had sexually assaulted her on four different occasions.

Ms Chrisakis said her client accepted he had sex with her on one occasion but she didn’t indicate she was not a willing participant.

The court also heard both the defendant and the complainant had an intellectual disability.

Ms Chrisakis said her client had not yet been diagnosed with schizophrenia and was unmedicated at the time of the alleged offence and had frequently visited Glenside Hospital in the past.

Chief Magistrate Mary-Louise Hribal addressed the prosecutor and said it was important the matter was given “a degree of priority” to determine if the case was going to proceed or not by Mr Clare’s next court date in October.

Mr Clare is exepected to make an application for bail when a suitable address is available.