Mr Jones has pleaded not guilty to 22 charges of indecent assault and sexual touching. (ABC News: Jamie McKinnell)<\/p>\n
A former colleague of Alan Jones has denied confiding in a radio rival was a prearranged effort to boot the veteran broadcaster off a "coveted" breakfast show.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Complainant C is one of six men accusing Mr Jones of indecent assault and sexual touching.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He is giving evidence in the criminal trial, having accused Mr Jones of kissing and touching him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alan Jones's defence lawyers have accused one of the veteran broadcaster's alleged assault victims of confiding in two men who "hated" Mr Jones as part of a workplace "beef" at commercial radio station 2GB.<\/p>\n
Complainant C, a former colleague of Mr Jones, is giving evidence in his criminal trial in the NSW Local Court, having accused the former high-profile talkback host of kissing and touching him.<\/p>\n
There are eight charges of indecent assault connected to Complainant C, who has alleged Mr Jones touched his crotch while driving and kissed him multiple times in his apartment lift, and in a work lift.<\/p>\n
Mr Jones has pleaded not guilty to 22 charges of indecent assault and sexual touching in relation to six men.<\/p>\n
In the defence case opening remarks, Gabrielle Bashir SC suggested Complainant C in particular had been encouraged to make a complaint by 2GB host Ray Hadley, to "destroy" his radio rival Mr Jones.<\/p>\n
The court has previously heard Complainant C told Mr Hadley in 2019 he'd been assaulted by Mr Jones, and then spoke on the phone that day to author Peter FitzSimons, who at the time was allegedly "researching" a story about Mr Jones.<\/p>\n
Complainant C said he never told Mr FitzSimons who he was, and refused to go on the record, but has admitted he was happy for the author to use his allegations for "background".<\/p>\n
The court heard on Thursday that suggestions from Mr Jones's defence team that Mr Hadley, who presented the morning show, "coveted" Mr Jones's breakfast slot in 2019, and was disappointed when he did not get it.<\/p>\n
Ms Bashir put to Complainant C that he was aware both Mr Hadley and Mr FitzSimons did not like Mr Jones, and suggested they prearranged a complaint.<\/p>\n
"You understood Ray Hadley was in a position to benefit from publication of such allegations against Alan Jones?" Ms Bashir asked.<\/p>\n
"I don't agree with that," Complainant C replied.<\/p>\n