Private text messages from broadcast legend Ray Hadley, in which he disparaged a former on-air colleague in profane language, were read out in court on Wednesday. The messages pertained to allegations of indecent assault and sexual touching against veteran broadcaster Alan Jones.
The accuser, a former radio staffer, claimed Jones repeatedly kissed him without consent in a lift at his home and workplace, and groped him in a car and at an event over five months.
Jones, 85, has pleaded not guilty to 22 charges of indecent assault and sexual touching without consent against six men between 2003 and 2023 in Sydney and the NSW Southern Highlands. None of the charges allege grooming.
The court heard that years after the alleged incidents, the former staffer exchanged texts with Hadley. The staffer had sent Hadley an article stating the broadcaster had begun working with Jones, with the text: 'Surprise fing surprise'. Hadley responded by calling the other man 'a fing dog'.
'Explains why he lied to (journalist) Kate (McClymont) about what he saw Jones do to me. Dog by the very definition,' the former radio staffer replied, according to court testimony.
Under cross-examination, the staffer accepted he was aware the broadcaster denied witnessing the alleged groping but stated he did not know if the man had told McClymont the truth.
The former staffer was one of the individuals Hadley was aware of who had confided about the alleged indecent assaults years after they reportedly occurred.
'I said, "You know we joke a bit about it, but you know some of the stuff (Jones) did to me was quite fed up",' the former staffer told the court. Hadley reportedly asked if he was okay, to which the staffer replied, 'He's a fing grub.'
While sworn to secrecy, Hadley later put the staffer in touch with journalist Peter FitzSimons, who was researching similar allegations about Jones. The former staffer told the court he wanted FitzSimons to know there was truth to the allegations but did not wish to share his story publicly.
During his testimony, the staffer acknowledged inconsistencies between his police statements about the alleged assaults and his court testimony. In one account, he stated he froze when Jones first touched his groin while driving, while another recalled pushing the older man's hand away.
The former radio staffer insisted he was attempting his best to recall events from decades prior and repeatedly denied fabricating the allegations against Jones. He rejected a suggestion from Jones's barrister that he could have pushed the broadcaster away, stating, 'I didn't feel I was able to physically resist him.'
Jones, who dominated Sydney's airwaves for 35 years and also broadcast nationally as a commentator, has denied all allegations.
Ray Hadley is expected to testify later in the trial after the former radio staffer completes his evidence.