source : the age
Warning: Graphic content
The mother of a former athlete who has accused Alan Jones of indecent assault was in shock and told her son she should have protected him after he alleged the former broadcaster had touched him inappropriately, a court has heard.
Complainant “J”’s mother told the Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday that she asked her son after allegations were reported in the media about the former broadcaster: “Did Alan Jones ever touch you, or do anything to you?”
She said he had told her no, but the following year he said he had lied.
The woman testified that she told her son she was “sorry that happened, I should have protected you”. She was in shock at the time, she told the court.
Complainant “J” has given evidence that he initially lied to his mother because he was worried she would push him to make a complaint to police and he felt that no-one would believe him.
He made a police complaint in 2024 after Jones was arrested over allegations he had kissed or touched men without their consent.
His mother told the court that Jones had bought her a dishwasher and had visited the family at home. She also recalled going on a trip with her family to the then-broadcaster’s farm at Fitzroy Falls in the NSW Southern Highlands.
Jones is standing trial on 20 counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual touching without consent. The allegations span two decades, from 2003 to 2020, and six complainants.
The former 2GB broadcaster vehemently denies the allegations and is defending the charges.
Of the 22 charges, nine counts of indecent assault relate to “J” and the alleged incidents are said to involve unwanted kissing and groping. This week, the Crown extended the date range during which the alleged assaults against “J” are said to have occurred by about two years. The allegations now cover a period when “J” was aged between 17 and 21, rather than 17 to 19.
‘J’ valued Jones association, court told
Earlier on Thursday, a former sporting coach of “J” told the court that it appeared to him at the time that some of the complainant’s “most enjoyable experiences came from his association with Alan”, including meeting celebrities.
“He would be very excited,” he told the court.
He said that “J” would refer to Jones as “a champion”, and he was aware that the then-broadcaster paid for a mobile phone and a car for the complainant, as well as giving him an allowance.
He told the court that “J” had told him the phone was valued at $1500. “It was one of the first camera phones,” he said.
The former coach said he also recalled “J” telling him that Jones had asked the complainant to chauffeur him to Canberra in his Mercedes, and that “J” had been excited about his accommodation in the national capital and “how elaborate it was”.
He said that he and “J” were invited to Jones’ home in the Toaster building at Circular Quay for dinner on the night of the Australian Idol final.
The former coach recalled one of the finalists was Guy Sebastian, who won the singing contest in 2003. “The Opera House is just outside the balcony,” he said. “We could hear the roars of the crowd.”
The court has heard “J” did not raise any concerns about Jones with his then-coach.
Ex-girlfriend grilled about texts
The ex-girlfriend of “J” concluded her evidence on Thursday. She was cross-examined about text messages he sent her after she gave police a statement in 2024 about a conversation she says she had with “J” 20 years ago.
She said “J” confided in her in the mid-2000s, when they were still in a relationship, that Jones had touched him inappropriately, and that he swore her to secrecy at the time.
In text messages in 2024, after Jones was charged, “J” told his ex-girlfriend “my name won’t be released” but “honestly I don’t care if it does get released because eventually it will happen”.
“What did you understand by that?” Jones’ barrister, Gabrielle Bashir, SC, asked.
“Possibly the media would get ahold of his name somehow,” the woman replied.
“Did you understand at that time that ‘J’ intended to sue Alan Jones?” Bashir asked.
“No,” she replied. The court heard that “J” also promised in the text messages to “look after” his ex-girlfriend.
The woman said she did not understand this to refer to anything financial. It “never crossed my mind” and “I didn’t even think twice about that”, she told the court.
New complainant due to give evidence
A new complainant, known as “C”, is expected to start giving evidence on Friday.
The Crown has foreshadowed that “C” will testify that Jones touched him on his penis while he was driving the radio host home from 2GB. Jones vehemently denies the allegations and is entitled to the presumption of innocence.
Prosecutor Georgina Wright, SC, said in her opening address to the court that “C” would say Jones kissed him on the lips in the lift of Jones’ harbourside apartment building as he was holding the veteran broadcaster’s belongings. “C” did not consent to this, the Crown says. The prosecution alleges similar conduct occurred when the men were alone in the 2GB lift.
Jones is charged with eight counts of indecent assault in relation to “C”.
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491.
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