Ray Hadley struck secret deal to take Alan Jones’ 2GB slot, court told

Ray Hadley signed a secret deal to take over the coveted 2GB breakfast slot from Alan Jones, a court has been told.

Mr Hadley is scheduled to appear in the witness box on Tuesday, bringing him face-to-face with his former 2GB stablemate-turned-rival as part of Mr Jones’ blockbuster indecent assault trial.

Mr Jones, 85, is standing trial in Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court having pleaded not guilty to 20 counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual touching relating to six male complainants.

One of the alleged victims, who can only be known as complainant C, has told the court Mr Jones kissed him without his consent and grabbed him on the penis, including on one occasion at a Sydney restaurant.

C previously told that court that he broke down in tears to Mr Hadley in October 2019 as he detailed his allegations against Mr Jones.

James Willis, who worked as a senior producer for Mr Jones’ breakfast show, told the court on Monday that in 2019 he became aware that Mr Hadley had been telling others that he had signed a contract to take over Mr Jones’ breakfast slot.

“My understanding is Mr Hadley had signed a secret contract to replace Mr Jones while Mr Jones was coming off contract,” Mr Willis, who was working for Mr Jones at the time, told the court.

“And while this was meant to be a secret, it had spread throughout the corridors.”

The court was told that Mr Willis sent Mr Jones a text message saying it was “obvious” that Mr Hadley thought he would be taking over the coveted breakfast slot at the end of the financial year when Mr Jones was off-contract.

Mr Jones was re-signed by 2GB to a two-year deal in 2019, however ultimately retired from radio in 2020 due to health concerns and replaced by Ben Fordham in the prime timeslot.

The court was told on Monday afternoon that Mr Hadley was due to give evidence following Mr Willis, whose evidence is due to come to a close on Tuesday.

‘Grab me’

James Willis, a current 2GB host and former Daily Telegraph journalist, told the court on Monday that C told him during a November 2023 phone call that Mr Jones Mr Jones “used to full grab me on the c**k”.

He said he phoned C after he had received a call from journalist Kate McClymont, who later reported allegations about Mr Jones.

He told the court on Monday that during the conversation, C appeared “agitated and distressed” and told him that Mr Jones “used to touch him inappropriately”.

Mr Willis said he remembered C saying: “he used to full grab me on the c**k”.

C also previously told the court that Mr Jones had kissed him in a Melbourne hotel room while he was in town to watch an AFL game.

Mr Jones has not been charged over the alleged incident.

C previously told the court that Mr Jones offered to give him a tour of the apartment and when they went into the walk-in wardrobe, Mr Jones told him “I’ve missed you” and kissed him on the lips.

Mr Willis, who was in the apartment at the time, said he had remained on the couch while Mr Jones and C walked into another room and did not see what happened.

‘Very, very concerned’

Meanwhile, an allegedly threatening email sent to a key witness in the trial has been referred to police, the court was told on Monday.

Former 2GB presenter Jason Morrison, has previously told the court he did not witness anything untoward at a lunch when C alleges he was grabbed under the table by Mr Jones.

He also told the court did not overhear anyone discussing any alleged incident.

Mr Morrison, who is currently The Daily Telegraph’s chief of staff, had been in the witness box for a week before his evidence came to a close on Monday morning.

Mr Jones’ barrister Gabrielle Bashir SC told the court Mr Morrison was sent an email “in relation to his evidence” and that she was “very, very concerned”.

“No witness should have to endure this sort of conduct … It’s a very serious matter,” Ms Bashir said.

Judge Glenn Walsh said the matter had referred to police and would be the subject of an investigation.

“Any person who reads the media should be very careful in relation to what they do and not run the risk of committing a criminal offence,” Judge Walsh said.

“The matters have been placed before the police, as I understand it, will be the subject of a police investigation. They will determine what they do in due course.

In a statement, NSW Police said: “NSW Police received a report this morning that a 54-year-old man received a threatening email.

“Police have commenced inquiries into the incident.”

‘Denier’

In the last of his evidence, Mr Morrison told the court that he thought it was “repulsive” after he was branded a “denier” by his former colleague Ray Hadley.

Mr Morrison previously told the court he was at the lunch but did not see anything untoward.

Separately, the court has been told C made a complaint to Mr Hadley about Mr Jones before he went to police.

“Did it come to your attention that Ray Hadley addressed the … allegations on the air … And did you hear him say, ‘Now, he’s a denier, Jason Morrison’?” Mr Jones’ barrister Gabrielle Bashir SC asked.

“I did, I thought it was repulsive actually. And unnecessary,” Mr Morrison replied.

Mr Morrison told the court that he was “shocked” when he was accused on air of being at the lunch and knowing what happened.

He told the court he believed some parts of the broadcast were “deeply defamatory”.

“I thought about writing to the radio station,” Mr Morrison said.

“I was quite annoyed that (2GB) would allow slanderous things to be said about me.

I mean in my mind this (the allegations) was a police matter, not a commentary matter,” he said.

The trial continues on Tuesday.