Alan Jones trial: Prominent athlete tells court of shock at alleged public kiss and apartment assault

A prominent athlete has come face-to-face with broadcaster Alan Jones in a Sydney court, testifying that the veteran media personality kissed him without consent at a public event and later pressed his genitals against him in a harbourside apartment.

The sportsman, known in court as Complainant M, is the first of six alleged victims to choose to give evidence in person rather than from a remote room. He is the third complainant to testify in the trial, which is now in its seventh week at the Downing Centre Local Court.

Jones, 85, has pleaded not guilty to 22 charges of indecent assault and sexual touching involving six men between 2003 and 2020. He denies all of the allegations, with his defence team previously arguing that the charges are built on opportunism and desperation.

The public kiss and the text messages

On Monday, Complainant M detailed the first alleged assault, which he said occurred at a public sporting function in 2015. He testified that Jones approached him closely "as if he was about to whisper something in my ear," but instead kissed him on the corner of his mouth.

The athlete said he did not consent to the kiss, which lasted a second or two, and was left in a state of shock.

"I recall thinking like, 'the f***' just kind of happened, like why would someone do that here?" the sportsman told the court. "I froze at that time and because I was in disbelief of where this was happening and didn't understand why it was happening."

Later that evening, the court heard, Jones sent him a text message. While the athlete initially recalled the text saying "I would like to be kissing you all night", phone records read out by prosecutor Georgina Wright SC showed the message actually read: "I hope you can feel my kisses darling."

The athlete told the court he did not want Jones’s affection but sent a neutral reply because he was terrified of offending him.

"I was always concerned about the reputation he had and how he could destroy people, and his perceived level of power," the athlete said, adding that Jones had the clout to damage major brands and politicians.

A history of overwhelming attention

The court heard the two met when the complainant was a teenager, beginning a relationship where Jones frequently showered the young athlete with praise, gifts, and attention.

The sportsman testified that Jones would introduce him on his radio programme in an "incredibly overwhelmingly complimentary" way that made him feel uncomfortable. The veteran broadcaster also allegedly sent a bouquet of flowers and a note to the athlete's home every week for several years, after the sportsman once complimented the tableware at Jones's dining table. Jones later gifted him a set of the same tableware.

When the athlete ran into severe financial difficulties, Jones flew him to his Southern Highlands farm in a helicopter and later organised a meeting at his Circular Quay apartment with his bank, accountant, and agent to try to resolve the issues.

Jones also frequently sent affectionate text messages, telling the athlete "I love you" and "I want to kiss you for hours." The athlete testified that he tried to ward off the advances by using the word "mate" in his replies to signal that the relationship was strictly platonic.

The apartment incident

The second alleged assault occurred between December 2018 and October 2020 at Jones’s Circular Quay apartment.

The athlete testified that he was alone with Jones when the broadcaster began kissing his cheek, moving closer to his mouth. "At the same time as kissing me he was saying things like 'I love you so much, you don't know how much I love you'," the athlete said.

When he felt Jones’s genitals pressing against his leg, the sportsman said he pushed the broadcaster away.

"As I could feel his genitalia against me, I pushed him away, saying 'OK mate' in a tone to say 'get away from me'," he told the court. He described his tone as "defiantly" conveying that Jones needed to stop. The athlete then left the apartment immediately.

The trial continues before Judge Glenn Walsh.