Athlete’s ex-girlfriend recounts reaction after his visit to Alan Jones: ‘Like he’d seen a ghost’

An ex-girlfriend of one of six men who allege sexual misconduct by veteran Australian broadcaster Alan Jones testified at his Sydney trial about the moment he allegedly disclosed being groped as a teenager. She told the court he appeared visibly shaken, "like he'd seen a ghost", after returning from a stay at Jones's property, before telling her Jones had "touched him inappropriately" and warning her aggressively not to tell anyone. Jones, 85, has pleaded not guilty to 22 charges of indecent assault and sexual touching without consent involving six complainants, with alleged offences spanning 2003 to 2020 in Sydney and the NSW Southern Highlands.

The court heard the athlete, now in his 40s, did not tell his mother or brother about the alleged assaults until after Jones's 2024 arrest, partly because he feared losing the financial support Jones provided, including a car, phone and weekly payments of up to $600 for nine years. His brother testified the athlete described Jones grabbing him and attempting to kiss him, though he never personally witnessed inappropriate behaviour. The athlete told the court he had delayed reporting because he feared being disbelieved and "crushed" in court, and during cross-examination acknowledged inconsistencies in his account while insisting he was doing his best to recall events from two decades ago.