Former Alan Jones colleague tells court of currying favour through texts

A complainant says he instigated a range of flirtatious text messages to Alan Jones when the pair worked together in a way of currying favour with him.

The man has accused the veteran broadcaster of indecent assault, an allegation Mr Jones denies.

A man accusing Alan Jones of indecently assaulting him when the pair worked together has told a trial he instigated flirtatious messages about being a bachelor to the veteran broadcaster because he "knew he would like to be spoken to that way".

Complainant C has alleged he was indecently assaulted by the former radio host on eight separate occasions while working with Mr Jones in 2008.

The man told the trial last week that Mr Jones kissed him without consent several times in the lift of his Circular Quay apartment and at work, and touched his crotch in the car while he was driving the radio host, when he was aged in his early 20s.

The man also alleges another colleague witnessed Mr Jones grope his penis on the outside of his pants when the radio host asked him to sit next to him at a lunch in Mosman.

Mr Jones has pleaded not guilty to 20 counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual touching relating to six male complainants between 2003 and 2020.

Under cross-examination for a second day, Complainant C was asked about comments he previously made about working with Mr Jones including saying that staff were treated like "family" and that he had a "great time".

Complainant C said the comments were not a true representation of his time working with Mr Jones and told the trial he said them before he ever spoke to anyone about the allegations.

The complainant previously told the court he felt "anxious and uncomfortable" when he accompanied a politician, who he worked for at the time, for a meeting with Mr Jones at the broadcaster's Circular Quay apartment in 2015.

Defence barrister Gabrielle Bashir SC suggested his description of how he felt was untrue, telling the court that after the meeting, Complainant C responded to a message from Mr Jones saying: "was so lovely seeing you too. Haven't been this happy with work in a long time … made only better by seeing you today."

"That message was in response to a message from Alan saying, 'I look happy … how big is the c***, love my angel'," Complainant C said.

The complainant accepted that he instigated a range of text message exchanges with Mr Jones throughout 2015 including one saying, "listening to your voice at work, missing you … lots of love always P.S I'm a bachelor again", followed by a comment, which the complainant agreed was a reference to his own penis.

"Do you agree that this was a message that was part of regular banter between you about the donkey?" Ms Bashir asked.