Radio host Alan Jones corresponded extensively with a 13-year-old who had written to him asking for financial help, a court heard on Tuesday. The teenager, known as complainant A, posted a letter to Jones after his father left, a family member died, and his single mother was struggling financially.
Jones, who has pleaded not guilty to 21 charges of indecent assault and sexual touching, replied to the young correspondent, describing him as a “sophisticated, articulate 13-year-old” experiencing “terrible circumstances.” He offered to help the family and maintained contact with the son via email, texts, and phone calls over three years.
The court heard that Jones visited the family at home and on one occasion asked the teenager to meet him outside. He also took the teenager to lunch alone at a pub and had him visit his Circular Quay apartment twice. Jones reportedly asked the teenager on several occasions to keep certain details from his mother.
Complainant A is one of five men who allege Jones sexually touched them between 2003 and 2020. Prosecutor Georgina Wright told the court that Jones allegedly kissed complainant A on the mouth and touched him on the bottom during a visit to his farm when the complainant was 17.