Advertisement
Home Latest News

Alan Jones Allegations Rise As He Faces Court, Again

An eleventh alleged victim has come forward
Alan Jones Faces Court
Image: Getty

After being arrested on November 18 on alleged indecent assault charges, controversial broadcaster Alan Jones will return to the Downing Centre Local Court after an additional charge was added to the historical offences, bringing the total to 35, spanning 11 alleged victims.

Advertisement

The disgraced radio personality had previously entered a not-guilty plea for the existing 34 indecent assault charges, before a new allegation from an 11th victim was added.

According to court documents released by the NSW local criminal court and published in The Guardian, the alleged โ€œassault with act of indecencyโ€ occurred in June 2013 and was confirmed as an additional charge by detectives from the NSW Police child abuse squad on Friday 7 March, 2025.

Jonesโ€™s arrest in November came after a nine-month investigation into allegations conducted by detectives from Strike Force Bonnefin โ€“ run by the State Crime Commandโ€™s child abuse squad.

The special strike force was formed after The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age published findings from an in depth investigation that revealed multiple claims of inappropriate behaviour spanning 60 years.

Advertisement

The controversial broadcaster was served with an arrest warrant at 7.45am on Monday 18th of November, 2024 and removed from his luxury Circular Quay apartment and taken to Sydney City police station, according to reports.

At the time of the Heraldโ€™s initial reporting, Alan Jones denied all allegations and threatened to sue the masthead. Jonesโ€™ lawyer Mark Oโ€™Brien responded to the allegations by claiming that his client was the victim of a premeditated character assassination. โ€œOver many years, certain journalists employed by Nine (formerly Fairfax) newspapers have been resentful of our clientโ€™s prominence as a commentator on many political and cultural issues, and the malicious and concocted allegations giving rise to the imputations constitute a concerted attempt to destroy our clientโ€™s reputation.โ€

What Has Alan Jones Been Charged With?

Alan Jones was initially charged with 24 offences against eight alleged victims, as outlined in an address to media by Assistant Commissioner Michael Fitzgerald.

The offences include 11 charges of aggravated indecent assault where the victim was under the authority of the offender, nine charges related to assault with act of indecency; two charges of common assault, and two charges of sexual touching. Amongst the charges are allegations that he kissed, fondled genitals and stroked the thighs of nine victims.

Advertisement

Speaking on the afternoon of the arrest, Fitzgerald revealed that โ€œPolice will allege the events took place between 2001 and 2019, involving eight victims. The youngest of those victims was a 17-year-old at the time when the alleged offence took place.โ€

โ€œI wish to commend the investigators of Strike Force Bonnefin [for] their tenacity and hard work โ€ฆ Historical matters such as this are incredibly hard to investigate,โ€ Assistant Commissioner Michael Fitzgerald said.

He continued, โ€œThe reports in the Herald and The Age did result in victims coming forward and the creation of Strike Force Bonnefin but this information, and a number of witnesses, have been assisting police over the years.โ€

It is suggested that Jones used his position of power to leverage his relationship with young men. Jones is a former teacher and rugby union coach who became a powerful and controversial figure in Australian media. He announced his retirement from radio station 2GB in May 2020.

Advertisement

Jones has since pleaded not-guilty, telling reporters following his first court appearance โ€œI have never indecently assaulted these people. The law assumed that Iโ€™m not guilty. And I am not guilty.โ€

He is currently facing a total of 11 counts of aggravated indecent assault, 12 counts of assault with act of indecency, two counts of sexually touching another person without consent and two counts of common assault.

A Timeline Of Allegations Against Alan Jones

Alan Jones arrested for alleged indecent assault
Barbarians coach Alan Jones gestures during the match between the Australian Wallabies and the Barbarians at Allianz Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Credit: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

According to a major investigation into Alan Jones and the allegations against him, investigative reporter at The Sydney Morning Herald, Kate McClymont AM, has uncovered a decades-long timeline of alleged assault, harassment, and intimidation.

Advertisement

The investigation, published in The Sydney Morning Herald in December 2023, detailed allegations of five men who each claim they were the victim of indecent assault or a gross misuse of power at the hands of Jones.

Jones denies all allegations.

Brisbane Grammar Student โ€“ 1965

According to reports by The Sydney Morning Herald, a then-23-year-old Alan Jones, was alleged to have put his hands down the pants of a student at Brisbane Grammar School.

Jones, who was teaching English and coaching cricket at the school, allegedly held the childโ€™s testicles for โ€œmaybe 30 seconds to a minuteโ€.

Advertisement

At the time, the student said that he was hit in the groin by a cricket ball.  

Arrest For Public Indecency โ€“ 1988

In 1988 Jones was arrested in London at the public toilets in Soho โ€“ one of the cityโ€™s most well-known gay beats.

The broadcaster was charged with โ€œoutraging public decencyโ€ and โ€œcommitting an indecent actโ€, but all charges against him were swiftly dropped.

Allegations of Assault From Alex Hartman โ€“ Mid 1990s

Alex Hartman, the late Australian tech businessman and protรฉgรฉ of Jones, told the Herald in 2017 that he was indecently assaulted by Jones as a young man.

Advertisement

In 1997, aged 17, the year 11 student, became a prominent figure in the Australian business industry after selling his software company to Telstra for a reported $1 million.

Over the years, Hartman confided in numerous journalists and friends about the indecent assault he was subjected to at the hands of Jones.

Hartman alleged that following his rise in public profile, Jones invited Hartman to his then-Newtown home for dinner, where records indicate that broadcaster allegedly assaulted the boy, who was left โ€œterrified, scared, in shock and did not know how to get out,โ€ according to the Herald investigation.

He also alleged that on another occasion where he was invited over to dinner, that Jones opened the door and exposed himself.

Advertisement

Notes referred to in the article allege that Jonesโ€™ behaviour was criminal and left the businessman with significant trauma.

After Hartmanโ€™s untimely death at the age of 39 in 2019, one of his friends from St Ignatiusโ€™ College Riverview, confirmed to the Herald that Hartman had confided in them about the alleged assault, which left Hartman โ€œshocked and traumatisedโ€.

When asked if he would take his case to the police, Hartman reportedly replied saying that Jones โ€œwas too powerfulโ€.

Before his death, Hartman reportedly told four journalists that โ€œI was his prey โ€ฆ I know I am not the only one, and this will come out somehow.โ€

Advertisement

Jones responded to the mastheadโ€™s questions at the time of the investigation with โ€œvehementโ€ denials of all allegations, adding that Hartman was โ€œa person who had a history of engaging in dishonest conductโ€.

Allegations from Marcus Schmidt โ€“ 2001

Marcus Schmidt was 26 years old when he alleges Jones groped his penis while driving.

Schmidt, who reached out to Jones for advice after being bullied over his sexuality in his teens, thought that he would find a kindred spirit in the broadcaster.

After agreeing to meet with Schmidt for dinner, Jones allegedly insisted that Schmidt drive Jonesโ€™ car to the restaurant. โ€œThe car ride was a bit outrageous,โ€ he recalled, alleging that Jones โ€œput his hand in my lapโ€ and โ€œtouched my penis through my pantsโ€.

Advertisement

After rebuking the broadcasterโ€™s repeated attempts โ€“ which allegedly occurred again on the way home โ€“ Schmidt also said while he didnโ€™t feel harassed because โ€œit was something some gay men didโ€, he was โ€œdisappointed because I thought Jones might be better than that.โ€

Allegations Of Indecent Assault From Brad Webster โ€“ Mid 2000s

Alan Jones 2GB
(Credit: SKY NEWS/AFP via Getty Images)

Brad Webster (a pseudonym used to protect the accuserโ€™s anonymity) was only 20 when he began working for Jones as an assistant during his time at Sydneyโ€™s 2GB.

As part of Websterโ€™s employment, he was frequently tasked with completing mundane tasks, telling McClymont about his experience working his way up from the bottom of the career ladder.

Advertisement

โ€œI did every shit job there was โ€ฆ in the world of 2GB, I was very small, you couldnโ€™t get any smaller than me.โ€

One of his responsibilities included driving Jones home from the 2GB offices to his home in the Circular Quay building known as The Toaster.

He said that while the drive only took 10 minutes, Jones would use the time as an opportunity to allegedly assault the 20-year-old.

โ€œDuring those 10 minutes, it would be wandering hands and then it just gradually became him grabbing my dick. And he would go for it,โ€ revealed Webster, nothing how horrible it was.

Advertisement

โ€œHe knew I wasnโ€™t gay, so it was about power dynamics. I would be driving, and he would have put his hand on my leg, and then youโ€™d sort of push his hand away, just try and wriggle out. But youโ€™re driving, youโ€™re absolutely trapped โ€ฆ heโ€™d go the grope, heโ€™d rub my penis.โ€

But it didnโ€™t stop there. As Webster was made to transport the broadcasterโ€™s bags up to his apartment, he alleges that Jones forcibly kissed him on the lips while he was unable to defend himself.

โ€œIt was forced on me. It was unwanted from a position of power.โ€

โ€œIf a 65-year-old man had pushed a 20-year-old woman into the corner of a lift, and began to kiss them non-consensually, what do we call that? We call that assault. Thatโ€™s what he did to me.โ€

Advertisement

Webster also alleges that once the pair reached his apartment, Jones would change into his dressing gown and head into his office while Webster was made to complete chores like ironing Jonesโ€™ underpants.

After requesting permission to leave, Webster claims Jones exposed himself to the assistant.

โ€œThereโ€™s no doubt that at the time when all this was going on, I truly felt helpless, you feel helpless,โ€ Webster shares with the publication.

โ€œThe power he had was ridiculous. You cannot quantify the power that that man had.โ€

Advertisement

During his time at 2GB, Webster also alleges that Jonesโ€™ behaviour was common knowledge among his senior colleagues.

Recalling incidences when Jones would allegedly grope his penis under the table, Webster says that he was the subject of ridicule from fellow staff members.

โ€œAnd then afterward โ€“ and this stuff made me angry โ€“ they would take the piss out of what just happened. Like, โ€˜Oh, did you enjoy that?โ€™โ€

After remaining silent for years, Webster became fearful of Jones dying without the allegations coming to light. And, after the birth of his son, he was prompted to come forward and share his story after admitting he couldnโ€™t imagine what he would do if the same was being done to his son.  

Advertisement

One producer, who remained anonymous due to fear, said that while he did not personally witness any such occurrences, he did see โ€œinappropriate behaviour and I saw it on a number of occasions.โ€  

Reiterating the culture of protectionism within the business, he also said that Jones, โ€œwould be all over them โ€“ he wouldnโ€™t take his hands off themโ€.

Allegations From Odin Childs โ€“ 2008

Odin Childs was working as a waiter at a Kiama restaurant when he alleges Jones grabbed and fondled him without consent.

Childs, who was 22 at the time of the alleged incident, recalls serving the inebriated broadcaster and another man as Jones brushed his leg.

Advertisement

While Childs thought nothing of the occurrence at the time, later in the evening when Jones was returning from the bathroom, the broadcaster allegedly pressed himself against the waiter before groping him.

โ€œBut as I turned to look and got distracted โ€ฆ I can feel his hand, not even a grab, but kind of like place his hand over [my trousers] and pull my penis to the side. Itโ€™s a disgusting feeling and itโ€™s hard to talk about.โ€

Childs told the publication he was too scared to go to the police, because of the broadcasterโ€™s status in the public eye.

โ€œMy anxiety was going off. I felt really sick,โ€ he told the reporter. He also said that on Jonesโ€™ way out, he allegedly โ€œputs his right hand on top of mine and his left hand under it and winks at me, saying โ€˜Thatโ€™s for you, you donโ€™t have to share it with anyone elseโ€™โ€ referring the broadcaster passing him a $20 note.

Advertisement

Allegations From Complainant โ€˜Kโ€™ โ€“ June 2013

The latest allegation against Alan Jones date back to June 2013 and are claimed to have taken place in Tamworth.

According to documents released by the NSW local criminal court, Jones allegedly โ€œdid assault Complainant โ€˜Kโ€™ and at the time of the assault committed an act of indecency on Complainant โ€˜Kโ€™, to wit, grab and squeeze left bottomโ€, as per detectives recount.

Police Commissionerโ€™s Statement Regarding Jonesโ€™ Arrest

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb has responded to reports of Alan Jonesโ€™ arrest by addressing media at a press conference from Helensburgh, NSW.

The commissioner outlined how the arrest was preceded by a โ€œlong, thorough and protracted investigationโ€ conducted by the strike force.

Advertisement

โ€œI did visit the strike force some weeks and months ago, to look at the work they have been doing. It is very complex and protracted, and I know that those officers have been working tirelessly to lead todayโ€™s operation,โ€ she said at the press conference, before stating that she expected the arrest would lead to additional reports and claims.

โ€œI canโ€™t speculate in this particular case, but what is often the case is when it is known โ€“ the full circumstances and those parties involved โ€“ other people may come forward, and we are anticipating that other people may come forward.โ€

Updates to come.

If you or someone you know needs help, please contact the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service on 1800 RESPECT for 24/7 support.

Advertisement

READ NEXT:

Survivor Shannon Molloy: We Canโ€™t Ignore The Sexual Abuse Of Boys

The Forgotten Child Sex Abuse Survivors In Rural Australia

Grace Tame Opens Up About Survival, Speaking Out & Starting A Revolution

Advertisement

Related stories


Advertisement
Advertisement