A social media influencer who allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted a young man was “very manipulative”, a court has heard.
On Thursday, numerous messages were shown to the complainant who accepted there was an element of flirting between the pair. The court also heard the complainant sent a photo of himself naked to the defendant.
The influencer, who has interim name suppression, has admitted assaulting the first complainant at a party in 2019 and possessing MDMA, also known as ecstasy.
However, he denies three counts of sexual violation, two charges of stupefying and three counts of blackmail in 2016 and 2017.
He has also denied three charges of sexually violating another young man in 2017.
The Crown’s case is that the influencer, who was “close friends” with the complainants, “abused the trust of those relationships in quite extreme ways”.
On more than one occasion, the pair found themselves waking up in the influencer’s bed being sexually assaulted, the Crown alleges.
Defence lawyer Emma Priest says her client is innocent. (File photo)
The first complainant, Mr A, who was a teenager at the time of the alleged offending, told a police interviewer he was sexually assaulted after attending two high-profile events with the influencer in 2016 and 2017.
Mr A also claims he was blackmailed into sending nude photos to the man and to comply with requests for sexual acts.
On Thursday, defence lawyer Emma Priest continued cross-examining Mr A, going through numerous text messages between him and the defendant.
Mr A accepted there was an element of flirting between the pair.
In one series of messages, in February 2016, the defendant and Mr A talked about sharing a double bed.
Priest said Mr A’s message was “clearly suggesting” he had an interest in engaging in sexual activity with the defendant.
However, Mr A said it was a joke.
A series of text messages between an influencer accused of sexual assault and the complainant were produced to the court.
In another series of messages, the defendant said Mr A owed him a photo.
“Now take off your pants and come here,” the defendant messaged.
“I’ll be right over...” Mr A replied.
Mr A then sent a series of photos, including one of himself naked.
“You are clearly sexting with [the defendant],” Priest said.
The defence lawyer suggested to Mr A that he had had previous sexual experience with other males, however Mr A said he had lied to the influencer and at that point his sexuality was confused.
He agreed there was a sexual aspect to the messaging but said the whole reason he wanted to be friends with the defendant was to grow his career.
“I know my truth and you are trying to recreate your own,” Mr A told Priest.
“He was a very manipulative person right from the start,” Mr A said.
Mr A went on to say he was a teen at the time of the alleged offending and told the influencer multiple times he was not gay.
“I am not sexually attracted to males, I won’t be and never have been.
“As a child, you are quite easily manipulated. Especially someone who is ... years older than you,” Mr A said.
The trial before Justice Christine Gordon and a jury continues.