Australian ‘shock jock’ Alan Jones, 83, charged with sexual assault of young men

The former coach of Australia’s national rugby union team has previously denied allegations of groping and inappropriate touching

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Retired broadcaster Alan Jones (centre) walks past waiting media as he leaves a police station in Sydney on Monday. Photo: AAP Image via AP

Published: 9:23am, 18 Nov 2024Updated: 2:54pm, 18 Nov 2024

Australian police on Monday charged former radio show host Alan Jones with 24 assault and sexual touching offences, indictments that followed accusations in a newspaper that Jones had assaulted young men for decades.

Police confirmed the arrest and charges against an 83-year-old man in Sydney but did not name him.

He was widely identified by Australian media as Alan Jones and television footage on Monday showed him in a police car arriving at a police station.

Police allege the offences took place between 2001 and 2019 against eight victims, some of whom Jones knew professionally or personally. The youngest was 17 at the time of the offence, they said.

More alleged victims are likely to come forward now charges have been laid, New South Wales police assistant commissioner Michael Fitzgerald told a press conference.

New South Wales state police said child abuse squad detectives arrested an 83-year-old man in Sydney, without naming the alleged perpetrator. Photo: AFP

Jones did not immediately response to requests for comment. He denied the assault allegations made against him last year by The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper. Police said the “energy” generated by the stories had helped bring the case to court.