Alan Jones to face court over sex abuse claims
Adelaide Lang |
Allegations that former radio host Alan Jones indecently assaulted multiple men while king of Sydney’s airwaves will be fully tested for the first time.
The 85-year-old is due to face the first day of a marathon local court hearing after he pleaded not guilty to 22 counts of indecent assault and sexual touching without consent.
Six complainants will allege Jones indecently assaulted or sexually touched them between 2003 and 2020 at various locations across Sydney and the NSW Southern Highlands.
None of the complainants can be identified for legal reasons.
Prosecutors are set to tell a Downing Centre Local Court judge the veteran broadcaster touched the groins of two men while they drove, and groped another two at public functions.
The one-time Wallabies coach is also accused of kissing four of the complainants without their consent, three of them on multiple occasions.
Some of the men were allegedly repeatedly indecently assaulted, with eight charges related to one alleged victim and nine to another.
Jones has repeatedly denied the allegations against him, declaring that he “never indecently assaulted these people” in December 2024, a month after he was arrested.
“These allegations are all either baseless or they distort the truth,” he said.
“The law assumes that I am not guilty and I am not guilty.”
The former talkback host’s long-anticipated day in court comes more than a year and a half after he was arrested in a green tracksuit at his luxury apartment in Sydney’s Circular Quay.
It followed a months-long investigation into allegations aired in Nine newspapers.
Jones rose to prominence after he began broadcasting in 1985 and became a feared interviewer capable of grilling leaders while sharing his outspoken, conservative views.
He worked with Sydney radio station 2UE before joining rival 2GB, where he was a long-time ratings juggernaut.
His many controversies included suggesting former prime minister Julia Gillard’s father “died of shame” and encouraging former New Zealand leader Jacinda Ardern to be hit “with a few backhanders”.
Jones also coached the Australian national men’s rugby union team, the Wallabies, leading them to victory in his first year when they achieved a grand slam of wins on their British Isles tour.
He has received a number of accolades for both his sports coaching and broadcasting contributions.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
AAP