Kate McClymont whose work sparked the downfall of Alan Jones gives evidence

Kate McClymont, the journalist whose articles caused the police to investigate now-disgraced 2GB radio host Alan Jones, began her testimony in his criminal trial on Tuesday.

Jones, 85, has pleaded not guilty to 21 counts of indecent assault and sexual touching of five men, many of whom spoke to Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) reporter McClymont before they went to police.

The series of McClymont's stories in 2023 contained accounts from the men who allege Jones indecently assaulted them.

Despite the crucial evidence of McClymont, court proceedings still paused yesterday when the Melbourne Cup horse race was run.

What did Kate McClymont publish about Alan Jones?

The allegations against the former radio titan were first published in a story in December 2023. They were immediately investigated by police and Jones was charged.

McClymont then spoke to three of the alleged victims, known to the court as Complainant A, C and H, and quoted them in stories in 2023 and 2024.

Earlier in the trial, Complainant C testified that he agreed to meet McClymont in 2023 after she contacted him about his experiences with Jones.

The SMH then published a story on that information.

The court also heard that McClymont spoke to or contacted 2GB employees and an ex-politician as research.

Complainant H reached out to McClymont after her reports. His allegations were published in May 2024 by the SMH.

READ MORE: Alan Jones won't answer questions from media throng as trial begins

READ MORE: Alan Jones trial: accuser told Ray Hadley, Peter FitzSimons, of alleged assaults

What did Complainant C tell McClymont

The court heard Complainant C told McClymont about an incident where Jones had placed a hand on his leg when they travelled in a car.

The court was played a section of the audio recording from that interview.

McClymont could be heard suggesting to Complainant C that he was trapped as he was the one driving the car, to which the complainant said "absolutely trapped".

McClymont told the court she did not recall speaking to 2GB's Ray Hadley about Jones, saying it was instead author Peter FitzSimons who spoke to Hadley in 2019.

She said she had no contact with the other complainants in the trial.

During her cross examination by Jones’ barrister, Gabrielle Bashir SC, McClymont denied that she was motivated by a profit motive, or a desire to drive readership increases, when she published her first story.

When asked by Bashir if a popular article would help the SMH to make “more money”, she told the court: “As I said, that’s not my area of expertise.”

The trial continues.