Mother of Alan Jones accuser says allegation left her ‘in shock’

A former star athlete who has alleged that Alan Jones indecently assaulted him over 20 years ago told his mother in 2024 that the veteran broadcaster did not touch him, however later told her he had “lied”, a court has been told.

Mr Jones is facing trial in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court, where he is battling 20 counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual touching.

He has pleaded not guilty and denied all allegations that he groped and kissed six male complainants.

During week one of the trial, one man – who can only be known as Complainant J – told the court that Mr Jones had grabbed him on the penis and kissed him without his consent during a series of alleged incidents in Mr Jones’ car, at his Circular Quay home and Fitzroy Falls farm in the early to mid-2000s.

Mr Jones has been charged with nine counts of indecent assault relating to J, who was a once a promising athlete.

The court on Thursday heard from several witnesses related to J’s evidence, including J’s former girlfriend, ex-coach and mother.

The court will on Friday hear from the second complainant in the trial – a man who can only be known as “C”.

“In shock”

J’s mother told the court that in December 2024 after seeing news reports of Alan Jones’ arrest, she asked her son if the broadcaster had ever “touched” him.

“And he said no,” J’s mother told the court on Thursday afternoon.

She further said that a year later, J told her that he had earlier “lied” about Mr Jones, the court was told on Thursday.

“Then a year later, (J) told me that it did happen,” the woman told the court.

“I just said ‘I’m sorry that happened, I should have protected you’.”

The woman said that she was “in shock” when J told her about his allegation.

The coach

J’s former coach has taken the stand, telling the court that he met Mr Jones through J.

He recalled watching the Australian Idol season one finale, in which Guy Sebastian was crowned the winner, from Mr Jones’ Circular Quay apartment.

During his evidence, J’s coach told the court that J met celebrities through the talkback host and some of his “most enjoyable experiences came from his association with Mr Jones”.

The coach said that as a young athlete, J was “confident and forthright” and would talk to him if he had concerns about sporting officials.

“If (J) was in physical danger, you knew he could look after himself,” Mr Jones’ barrister Michael Burke said.

“Yes,” the coach said.

The court was told that Mr Jones and J attended a function several years after J retired from sport, which the coach helped to organise, and that the coach put them both on a table together.

“As far as you knew everything was normal,” Mr Burke asked

“Yes,” the coach replied.

“They interacted as old friends would,” Mr Burke said.

“Absolutely,” the man said.

The coach told the court that J had never relayed any concerns to him about Mr Jones.

‘It did happen’

J’s former girlfriend’s time in the witness box ended on Thursday morning.

The court was told that in early 2024, she was ordered to pay a fine of more than $1000.

She denied a suggestion from Mr Jones’ barrister Gabrielle Bashir SC that she was in need of financial assistance at the time.

“No, I didn’t need financial help,” J’s former girlfriend told the court.

Ms Bashir suggested that the conversation in her loungeroom in the early to mid 2000s, during which J revealed his allegations to her, was a concoction.

“I suggest there was no such conversation (in her loungeroom),” Ms Bashir said to the woman.

“It did happen,” she replied.

‘I promise to look after you’

Ms Bashir asked J’s former girlfriend about a text message J sent her that said “I promise to look after you” after he came forward to police.

The court heard that at the time of the alleged offences, J told his then-girlfriend that he was “going through a lot” and “Alan Jones has been touching me”.

They broke up in the mid 2000s but later reconnected.

After J came forward to police, the woman spoke to detectives and agreed to give a statement about the allegations that he had relayed to her in the early to mid 2000s.

The court was told that, in the 2024 text messages, J told his ex-partner: “I promise to look after you.”

J, in his evidence, denied that he was offering his former partner financial reward in exchange for supporting his account and that he was planning to sue Mr Jones in a civil court.

Ms Bashir asked: “You understand that was a promise to look after you financially.”

“No,” J’s former girlfriend said.

She told the court it “never crossed my mind” that J was offering a financial reward but admitted “it does look like” he was promising money.

“I suggest it looks like that because that’s exactly what it was,” Ms Bashir asked.

“No,” the woman replied.