Allegations of indecent assault, sexual touching laid bare against former 2GB broadcaster

Warning: This blog contains discussion of legal submissions and evidence that is graphic and may be confronting for some readers.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of day one of Alan Jones’ indecent assault and sexual touching trial. I’ll be keeping you informed of the latest developments with my colleague, Clare Sibthorpe.

Jones, a former teacher, political candidate, speechwriter and coach of the Australian national rugby union team, dominated Sydney breakfast radio for decades before he retired from 2GB in May 2020.

More than four years later, in November 2024, he was arrested and charged over allegations he indecently assaulted, groped or inappropriately touched a number of young men.

His criminal trial starts today in the NSW Local Court in Sydney and centres on allegations of unwanted kissing and touching by six men, who will give evidence over the coming weeks. Jones has always maintained his innocence and is defending the charges.

Anyone needing support can contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028, Lifeline 13 11 14, and Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800.

Complainant “J” has told the court he had contradictory feelings of being afraid of Jones while equally grateful for his financial support and connection-building.

Speaking about several alleged occasions where Jones kissed him without his consent when he was in year 12 and shortly after, the man said he did not ask “for those things” but also accepted them.

“Was I actively doing everything I could to push him away? No I didn’t, because I didn’t want to lose those things, so I just dealt with it.”

The man, who was a young athlete at the time, said his friendship with Jones was tainted by the alleged assaults.

Complainant J has given evidence that Alan Jones told him after another alleged incident in Canberra: “You’ve been a really good boy, I’m going to give you some more money.”

Jones had been paying “J” $400 a week, the complainant said, but he said the broadcaster told him he would increase the amount.

“J” told the court that at the time of the alleged conversation he had driven Jones to an event in Canberra and they were on the way back to Sydney.

The complainant says Jones had already kissed him without his consent on earlier occasions, and he did so again at a hotel in Canberra.

As court reconvened following lunch, complainant “J” shared his fear of coming forward about Jones’ alleged indecent assaults.

The man described several occasions where Jones allegedly kissed him without consent, beginning when he was in year 12.

As the man described leaving Jones’ Circular Quay apartment following one alleged unwanted kiss, prosecutor Georgina Wright, SC, asked if he told his coach who drove him home from the apartment.

“I didn’t tell him because if I told someone then I’d lose everything,” the man said.

“I came from a small family, I’d struggled my whole life. I was now having everything handed to me - it was a wonderful life”.

Alan Jones connected “complainant J” with high-profile people, including a former prime minister, the court has heard.

Continuing his testimony, the man recalled a time when Jones asked him to drive interstate for a function. “J” says he was seated at a table with the former prime minister.

Asked by prosecutor Georgina Wright, SC, if he spoke to the man, he said he told the politician he was going to be incredibly successful in his sporting career.

The former prime minister responded that Jones had been talking about him, “J” said.

Later on in his evidence, the man said Jones began paying him $400 a week so he did not have to find a job and could focus on training.

“He also said I don’t have to tell anyone about [the financial help] because it’s a gift,” the man said.

Complainant “J” has told the court that he observed Jones’ immediate change of demeanour after he froze when Jones allegedly kissed him without consent.

The man, who alleges the offending began when he was in year 12 and took place over two years in the early 2000s, said Jones took him out for a Chinese meal before inviting him over to his luxury harbourside apartment.

The complainant told the court Jones made inappropriate remarks which made him uncomfortable while the pair watched tennis.

When he got up to leave and go home, Jones stood up and hugged him.

Just before Complainant J started giving evidence, Alan Jones was asked to move from his position in the courtroom so that he would not be in the man’s sight line.

Jones, from his new position, has been scribbling notes throughout the evidence. He is writing in a small black notebook with a silver pen, occasionally underlining words for emphasis, and showing them to his lawyer, Bryan Wrench. He appears to be listening intently.

“J” is giving evidence from outside the courtroom via audiovisual link, but he can see the hearing room.

The first complainant to give evidence, “J”, has described his surprise at Alan Jones offering to buy him a car to assist with his sporting commitments.

The man told the court he met Jones when he was 14 or 15. Jones organised through his coach to interview him about his sporting achievements.

When the pair met at Jones’ studio, Jones asked him about his challenging upbringing and impressive sporting career.

At the end of the meeting, Jones “held his arms out and gave me a cuddle,” “J” said.

Bashir says the evidence must be viewed through the prism of directions of law, not through sensationalist headlines, and the fundamental matter is ensuring fairness to Jones, who is facing allegations spanning 20 years.

She alleges Complainant C “rewrote the history of his relationship with Jones” and claims that Jones’ former 2GB stablemate, Ray Hadley, helped fuel media reports about the allegations.

“You will see evidence in Hadley’s own words of his resolve to destroy Jones and to, one by one, tear his supporters apart,” Bashir alleges.

Bashir alleges it was Hadley who contacted this masthead’s columnist Peter FitzSimons about “C”, and FitzSimons passed on this account to Kate McClymont, chief investigative reporter at The Sydney Morning Herald.

Alan Jones’ lead barrister, Gabrielle Bashir, SC, is delivering her opening address to the court after the Crown set out the central allegations in the trial.

“Rivalry, treachery, double-dealing, money, hatred, desperation, opportunism and more are all at the heart of this case,” Bashir says.

Bashir says rumours and allegations have been levelled at Jones for years in the lead-up to this trial.

She alleges four of the six complainants in this case “ensured their stories were part of a trial by media” but “in this court, proof beyond reasonable doubt must be satisfied”.

Bashir says that her client has maintained from day one that he is not guilty of all these charges, and he will now have the opportunity to test the allegations, in particular the credibility and reliability of the complainants.

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