A Sydney barber who allegedly raped a woman after they met up during the city's COVID-19 lockdown has been granted bail.
Talal Eleter was charged with five counts of sexual intercourse without consent in September, after arranging to meet the woman he'd been speaking to online at her workplace.
Eleter maintains the encounter was consensual, but the complainant told police she had told him - before and during - that she did not want to have sex.
In a bail hearing in the NSW Supreme Court on Tuesday, Eleter's lawyer contended the prosecution's case was weak and said his client would plead not guilty to the charges.
With a trial unlikely to begin until late 2022 at the earliest, more likely in 2023, Eleter should be released on bail in the meantime, Theo Voros argued.
He proposed a list of conditions, which would allow Eleter to resume working as a barber.
However, the Crown argued the 28-year-old should remain behind bars, primarily because there is a risk he - or his associates - could pressure the woman to withdraw her allegations, change her evidence, or skip the trial.
Anthony Brookman also contended Eleter posed a risk to the community, given his criminal history and "borderline" compliance with previous court orders.
The alleged offence was committed while he was serving a sentence in the community for other charges, Mr Brookman noted.
"It would seem that trouble follows the applicant.
"There's extensive criminal associations there, a demonstrated non-compliance with court orders and conditional liberty (and) there's misbehaviour, inclusive of fighting and drugs in custody."
Justice Mark Ierace agreed Eleter contacting the complainant is a "very real concern", but said it could be mitigated by a number of bail conditions.
Given the delay to any trial, Eleter was granted bail.
"There's an element of trust placed on you," Justice Ierace warned Eleter.
"I want you to clearly understand that if any pressure is brought to bear on the complainant directly or indirectly by you ... then that would be a breach of your bail conditions."
Eleter is to live with his parents in Punchbowl, report to police daily, and cannot drink alcohol or take drugs.
He is also banned from the Bankstown suburb, and is subject to a strict curfew.
