Alan Jones's former colleague quizzed over 'loyalty' promise

The trial of veteran broadcaster Alan Jones has heard a former colleague promised him "loyalty" and that he would "refute any lies" made by "lefties" after media stories emerged about Mr Jones's alleged offending.

A former 2GB colleague of Mr Jones is giving evidence in the NSW Local Court about allegations that Mr Jones kissed and touched a younger male colleague on multiple occasions at work and in the lift of his Circular Quay apartment in 2008.

Other witnesses have told the trial this former employee was at a Christmas lunch in 2008, saw Mr Jones rest his hand on the complainant's lap under the table and then later made a joke about him "copping a feel".

Mr Jones has been charged with indecent assault of Complainant C at that lunch, one of 22 charges he has pleaded not guilty to.

But the witness, who the ABC will not name to protect the complainant's identity, has been accused by the crown of giving evidence to "assist" Mr Jones after denying any memory of attending the lunch.

Text messages revealed in court

Under cross-examination by the crown, the witness has been shown text messages he sent Mr Jones in 2023, when Sydney Morning Herald journalist Kate McClymont contacted him about reports of a 2GB staff member touching another staff member.

The witness agreed he forwarded Ms McClymont's enquiry to Mr Jones, and told him, "if you need me to refute any lies I of course will".

In the text exchange, the court heard the witness called Ms McClymont a "c***", a "low breed" and "pure evil".

Mr Jones replied: "I am sick of all this. [Ray] Hadley inspired."

The witness agreed while he initially had no intention of returning Ms McClymont's enquiry, he then spoke with Mr Jones, who he recalls wanting him to talk to the journalist and tell her "the truth".

Crown prosecutor Georgina Wright SC put to the witness that he was trying to ingratiate himself with the defendant by sending offensive message about Ms McClymont.

"No, that's how I felt about her."

"You regard loyalty to [Mr Jones] as the upmost importance to your relationship with him, don't you?" Ms Wright asked.

The witness said he regarded loyalty as important in all of his friendships.

Witness accused of 'assisting' Jones

When Ms McClymont's first story about Mr Jones was published in 2023, the witness texted Mr Jones to say the allegations against the broadcaster were being made by "sick people" and that "everyone who loves you is right behind you".

Asked who he was calling "sick", the witness told the court he meant the "lefties that hate Mr Jones … there's a string of them".

Under repeated questioning about what he saw at the staff lunch, the witness denied memory of the event, or having ever seen Mr Jones behave inappropriately towards any staff member.

While another lunch guest said this witness did see the alleged assault, witness Jason Morrison also told the court he did not see it.

He also denied ever hearing any jokes about Mr Jones giving romantic attention to a younger colleague, or having made a joke about the complainant "copping a feel".

"I suggest you are sticking … to not recalling anything at all, to assist the defending in this trial, aren’t you?" Ms Wright asked.

"Your lack of recollection is not genuine, is it?"

"It is genuine, it was 18 years ago," the witness replied.