Disney denies assaulting teen colleague

Television identity Gavan Disney has denied sexually assaulting a junior male
colleague almost 30 years ago, telling a court the teenager was not a "shy, retiring
type".

Disney, the co-creator of the Nine Network's long-running program Hey Hey It's
Saturday, is fighting accusations he assaulted a worker while employed as an
executive at Ballarat television station BTV6 in the early 1980s.
The County Court jury has heard Disney, 60, would squeeze the teenager's genitals,
kiss him, force him to perform oral sex and on one occasion fondled his genitals
with shaving cream.
He has pleaded not guilty to 10 indecent assault charges and two counts of rape over
alleged incidents which began soon after the alleged victim joined the station in
1980 aged 17.
During an hour of cross-examination, Disney repeatedly denied allegations he
assaulted the teenager.
He said he had no sexual interest in him and while he was a good worker, he did not
show him favouritism.
"He was eager, he was keen," he said.
"He showed potential and he was given an opportunity."
Prosecutor Kieran Gilligan accused Disney of escalating his assaults against the
teenager when he knew he would not complain about it.
"He had nothing to complain about," Disney replied.
Disney also rejected suggestions he took advantage of the alleged victim's ambition
and the fact he didn't want to risk losing his job by speaking out.
Disney told the jury that if the allegations were true, there would have been
nothing stopping the complainant seeking help.
"I'm telling the truth and (he) was not a quiet retiring type at all," he said.
The jury had heard the teenager confronted Disney about his behaviour in 1994 when
both he and Disney were working in Melbourne.
But Disney said the complainant contacted him because he wanted a job.
Disney said he didn't offer him one because he was working on a "completely
different" program.
"He had been through a bad time. I thought he looked a little unwell," Disney said.
"I felt he wasn't up to being employed by me."
Disney also testified that he and his former co-worker, former Ballarat television
presenter Frederick Fargher, were never friends.
Mr Fargher has given evidence against Disney at his trial, alleging Disney told him
he wanted to "get into the pants" of the alleged victim.
Mr Fargher said Disney invited him to a television station dressing room for drinks
and there he saw Disney fondle the teenager's genitals with shaving cream.
Disney's wife Margaret Disney gave evidence, describing the complainant as a
confident man who had visited the family home several times.
"He was a confident person and quite a happy person. He seemed to enjoy working in
Ballarat and being there," she said.
Ms Disney said her husband's employees tended to look up to him and respect him.
She said he never appeared to single out the alleged victim for special attention.
The jury had heard one of the occasions of the alleged abuse was in 1983 in the
driveway of Disney's home.
But Ms Disney said there were no occasions that year when the alleged victim was
invited to the home, nor times when she was away.
Peter Finch, a co-worker of the complainant, who worked with him at BTV6, described
him as determined.
"He was always prepared to hop in and have a go," he said.
"He seemed to be determined to make a success of his career and take any opportunity
to further himself."
The trial continues in Ballarat on Tuesday.