Alan Jones faces 22 charges of indecent assault and sexual touching in NSW Local Court

Consensus Summary

Alan Jones, the veteran broadcaster, is facing 22 charges of indecent assault and sexual touching in the NSW Local Court, with allegations spanning from 2003 to 2020. The trial, now in its seventh week, centers on six men who accuse Jones of inappropriate behavior, including unwanted kisses and physical contact. A prominent athlete, identified as Complainant M, testified on Monday, September 14, describing how Jones allegedly kissed him without consent at a public event in 2015. The athlete recounted feeling shocked and embarrassed, with the kiss lasting only 'a second or two' but leaving him in disbelief. Jones has pleaded not guilty to all charges, maintaining the incidents never occurred.

The allegations against Jones began taking shape years ago, with the athlete first meeting Jones when he was a young teenager. Jones was described as overwhelmingly complimentary, often using flattering language like 'beautiful man' and 'champion' in texts and conversations. The athlete testified that Jones’s behavior, while initially flattering, became increasingly uncomfortable, culminating in the alleged kiss at the 2015 event. Following the incident, Jones allegedly sent a text message expressing a desire to 'be kissing you all night,' further unsettling the athlete. The court heard that Jones also sent weekly flower deliveries and gifts, such as tableware, which the athlete interpreted as part of a pattern of inappropriate attention.

Key figures in the trial include Complainant M, who chose to testify in person rather than remotely, and Jones’s legal team, led by barristers Gabrielle Bashir and Claire O’Neil. The athlete’s testimony was supported by details such as Jones’s text messages and the timing of the alleged incidents, including a second charge involving physical contact between December 2018 and October 2020. Crown prosecutor Georgina Wright SC foreshadowed further allegations, including claims that Jones pressed his body against the athlete. Meanwhile, Jones’s defense has called witnesses, including a former politician who denied seeing the 2015 kiss, and a former colleague of another complainant who claimed Jones never behaved inappropriately toward him.

While both 7NEWS and ABC agree on the core allegations and timeline, discrepancies emerge in specific details. ABC provides additional context from witnesses, including a former politician who did not observe the 2015 kiss and testimony about another complainant, Complainant C, who alleged multiple incidents in 2008. These accounts include claims of groping and kissing in lifts or apartments, as well as discussions about suing Jones around 2018 or 2019. 7NEWS, however, focuses more on the athlete’s personal testimony and the immediate aftermath of the alleged kiss, without delving into the broader witness statements presented in ABC’s coverage. The differences highlight varying emphases in how the trial’s developments are being reported.

The trial remains ongoing, with the court in closed session for sensitive testimony. Media are permitted to observe remotely, though the athlete’s in-person appearance marks a shift from previous remote testimonies. The next phases of the trial are expected to include further evidence from witnesses and potentially more allegations from the remaining complainants. Jones’s defense continues to challenge the credibility of the accusations, while prosecutors aim to establish a pattern of behavior that supports the 22 charges. The outcome of the trial could have significant repercussions for Jones’s career and public perception, given the high-profile nature of the case.