Outspoken radio personality and former educator Alan Jones has entered a plea of not guilty to numerous charges of sexual abuse after a series of allegations against him were dismissed. The 84-year-old faced accusations regarding historical sexual offences involving 11 individuals, the youngest being just 17 at the time of the alleged incidents, which spanned two decades during his prominent broadcasting career in Sydney.
Originally facing a total of 35 charges, the situation shifted significantly when prosecutors withdrew over a dozen charges and modified the remaining allegations in Downing Centre Local Court. Jones now confronts 25 charges of indecent assault and two for sexual touching involving nine accusers. Notably, prosecutors did not clarify why the charges concerning two individuals were abandoned.
The adjustments to the charges mean that all allegations associated with aggravated conduct or any claims that the alleged victims were under Jones’ authority have been removed. His lawyer, Bryan Wrench, emphasised that these are not new allegations, highlighting a potential shift in the case’s direction.
Jones formally pleaded not guilty through his attorney and is set for a local court hearing scheduled for 2026. Wrench expressed concern over the prosecution’s reversal on proceeding to trial, stating that Jones had been ready to face the charges since the beginning. He estimated the court proceedings could last several months due to numerous unresolved pre-trial issues, including challenges regarding the legality of searches and phone intercepts pertinent to the case.
Crown solicitor Emma Curran estimated that the hearing might last around six weeks with the hope of reducing the time through negotiations. Deputy Chief Magistrate Sharon Freund noted the extensive demands such a length of hearing would place on court resources, adjourning the matter for two months to facilitate discussions on pre-trial matters, with a new hearing date expected to be set in November.
Jones was taken into custody in November following an eight-month police investigation into alleged indecent assaults and sexual touch incidents occurring between 2001 and 2019. Upon his initial court appearance in December, Jones dismissed the allegations, labelling them as either baseless or distortions of the truth.
The charges surfaced after a long and influential broadcasting career that began in 1985, during which Jones became known for his combative interview style and polarising views. He had a successful tenure at Sydney’s 2UE before becoming a stalwart at rival 2GB until 2020. In addition to his broadcasting career, he coached the Australian national rugby union team, achieving significant success from 1984 to 1988.
Support is available through the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).