Former athlete grilled over police statements about alleged Jones kiss

A former athlete who has accused Alan Jones of kissing him non-consensually at an event in Sydney has denied suggestions by the former 2GB host’s barrister that the alleged incident never happened.

“M”, one of six complainants giving evidence in the trial, was taken to his police statements about Jones during his cross-examination in the Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday.

The complainant has alleged the then-broadcaster kissed him at the function on the corner of the mouth after he departed the stage and was returning to his table. He said he believed he froze during the alleged incident.

Jones’ barrister, Gabrielle Bashir, SC, put to him on Tuesday: “Alan Jones never kissed you at that [function], did he?”

The complainant replied: “Alan Jones kissed me.”

“M” agreed that he did not tell police in his statements that Jones kissed him on the lips or lip at the function about a decade ago.

Bashir took him to his evidence on Monday in which he said Jones “kissed me close to my lips, not on my cheek … on the side part of the outer part of my lip, towards the cheek”.

“And [you said] that ‘his mouth touched my lips’. Do you remember giving that evidence?” Bashir asked. “Something similar to that, yes,” the man answered.

Bashir asked if he remembered telling police in his statement that Jones kissed him on his “face, close to the corner of my mouth”. He said he did.

“You did not say to the police that it was on your lip, did you?” Bashir asked.

“I don’t think I did, but in having a discussion, I believe I pointed to where it was,” “M” said.

He agreed he had also not told police that he froze during the alleged kiss.

Bashir spent hours of her cross-examination on Tuesday questioning “M” on his movements throughout the function, including when he was on stage, who he sat with for dinner, and what guests ate.

She showed him pages of photos of him and Jones with various people to challenge him on his timeline of events, including where he was standing and when he left the dinner.

Jones, 85, is standing trial on 20 counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual touching without consent relating to six male complainants over a 17-year period from 2003 to 2020.

The former 2GB broadcaster denies any of the physical acts alleged by the complainants occurred. Of the 22 charges in the trial, one count each of indecent assault and sexual touching relate to “M”.

The court has heard that “M” was in his early 20s when he started meeting Jones socially, after being interviewed by him as a young athlete. He has alleged that Jones kissed him non-consensually twice when he was in his 30s.

Earlier on Tuesday, “M” agreed that he had “a close relationship with Jones over a period of time”, and that “in certain areas” he could go to the broadcaster if he needed help.

“I think there was both [a] professional and personal side to that relationship,” he said.

He said it was fair to say their closeness was demonstrated through “M” sending Jones texts on occasion with love and kisses.

The court heard on Monday that Jones sent the complainant a series of effusive messages referring to kisses and love, as well as sending him gifts and arranging for a helicopter to take “M” to his rural property.

“M” was asked on Tuesday about a Christmas message he sent Jones after the broadcaster allegedly kissed him non-consensually for the second time, years after the function in Sydney.

“I was being polite. I made reference [in court yesterday] to the challenges of the relationship between myself and the defendant,” he said.

Asked what sort of challenges he was referring to, he said: “Someone who has a presence in media, someone who has a reputation around what they do, someone also who’s been generous to me at times in my life.

“That’s why I believe I am wishing them the best for Christmas, even though an incident occurred prior to this at their house.”

The trial continues on Thursday.

Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491.

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