Complainant told friend that Alan Jones was ‘in love with’ him, court told

Warning: Graphic contentA man who has accused Alan Jones of unwanted kissing and touching told a friend that the broadcaster was “in love with him” and had touched him inappropriately, a court has heard.The friend of complainant “C” testified in Jones’ indecent assault and sexual touching trial on Monday that the man told him in 2023 that the former 2GB broadcaster used to “grab him”.Alan Jones outside the Downing Centre Local Court on Monday.WireImage“He seemed quite agitated and quite distressed when he was talking,” the witness told the Downing Centre Local Court.“He said that Alan used to ‘full grab him on the c--- ’, or words to that [effect].”The complainant was “very intoxicated”, he said, and had told him he had spoken to The Sydney Morning Herald’s chief investigative reporter, Kate McClymont, about his allegations.Jones, 85, is standing trial on 20 counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual touching without consent spanning a 17-year period from 2003 to 2020. He denies the allegations.The trial centres on the evidence of six male complainants. Of the 22 charges, eight indecent assault charges relate to “C”.The court heard that the friend of “C” signed a police statement in 2024, which said the complainant had “made the odd comment” to him over the years that “Alan was in love with him”. He said “C” told him that Jones would flirt with him in person and in text messages.The witness gave evidence on Monday that he had dinner with “C” and Jones in mid-2012 at the broadcaster’s suite at Crown Melbourne.“We sat down in front of the television, and there were menus there to order food,” the witness said.He told the court that Jones asked “C”: “Just come in here for a moment.” He said “C” followed Jones into the master bedroom.“Minutes passed, and then they came back,” the witness said.He said “C” had “appeared normal” when he returned. The trio ordered food and “had a chat”, he said.“C” did not say anything about what happened in the bedroom when the two friends left Jones’ suite about an hour later, the witness told the court.He said “not a word was mentioned about this” until the 2023 phone call, during which “C” said: “Do you recall the Melbourne hotel room?”Complainant “C” has testified that Jones kissed him without his consent in a walk-in wardrobe in the Packer suite. The alleged incident at Crown Melbourne does not form one of the charges in the trial.The witness said that “C” told him in 2019 that media coverage about Jones and another young man had “brought up a lot of old feelings and emotions”.“He might have used the word trauma, but I’m not sure. It didn’t stand out like a red flag,” the witness said.“I think I can recall him saying that there was … ongoing or sporadic flirting with Mr Jones. I can recall him saying that once or twice over the years.”Former 2GB broadcaster Jason Morrison finished giving evidence on Monday. Sam MooyEarlier on Monday, former 2GB host Jason Morrison finished giving evidence after a week in the witness box.He has told the court he did not see Jones appear to put his hand under the table in the lap of “C” at a lunch in Sydney almost 20 years ago.The court heard that former 2GB heavyweight Ray Hadley had called Morrison “a denier” on air in 2024.“I thought it was repulsive, actually, and unnecessary,” Morrison told the court. “I remember being quite shocked.” He said the comments were “deeply defamatory” and “hurt a lot”.Morrison said he worked as a contractor at independent media company Australian Digital Holdings (ADH) after leaving Seven in 2023.Jones had signed with ADH in 2021, and the company launched his brief foray into online broadcasting. Jones’ last program aired in late 2023.“What, if any, role did the defendant have in ADH?” prosecutor Georgina Wright, SC, asked.“By the time I got there, he was out,” Morrison said. “I did a week or so filling in on his show. It was producing online video, and by the time I got there it had ambitions to buy into terrestrial television and radio.”Morrison denied in his evidence last week that he feared blowback in his career if he gave evidence that was unfavourable to Jones.After Morrison left the witness box, Jones’ barrister, Gabrielle Bashir, SC, raised an email with Judge Glenn Walsh that had been sent by a member of the public to Morrison about his evidence.Bashir said it could amount to intimidation or threats to a witness and might constitute a criminal offence. The judge said that informing police was the appropriate course.“We’re very, very concerned,” Bashir said. “No witness should have to endure this sort of conduct.”The trial continues.Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491.Be the first to know when major news happens. Sign up for breaking news alerts on email or turn on notifications in the app.More:Alan Jones trialCourtsAlan JonesRadioFor subscribersFrom our partners