‘Anti-Jones crusade’: Alan Jones’ lawyers probe contact between police and journalists

A lawyer for former broadcaster Alan Jones has claimed continued media coverage of his client’s indecent assault case may be part of “the anti-Jones crusade”, telling a court he is seeking disclosure of all contact between NSW Police and journalists.

Jones was excused from appearing before Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday for a brief mention of his case, days after detectives laid a 35th charge against the 83-year-old regarding an 11th alleged victim.

Former broadcaster Alan Jones leaves Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court in December.Credit: James Brickwood

The latest charge, laid on Friday, alleges Jones indecently assaulted a complainant by grabbing and squeezing his bottom in Tamworth in northern NSW in 2013. Jones has denied all charges against him.

Solicitor Bryan Wrench told the court Jones’ legal team had received the brief of evidence on Thursday and had been served material relating to The Sydney Morning Herald’s chief investigative reporter Kate McClymont, who he noted was “the journalist who broke this story” about his client.

Wrench said of “particular concern” was that McClymont had published a story about Jones in the Herald on Tuesday, “directly talking about this case”, claiming “she is going to be a witness called in these proceedings”.

He said they were concerned it might be part of “the anti-Jones crusade”.

Alan Jones’ lawyer Bryan Wrench arrives at court on Tuesday.Credit: Kate Geraghty

“We seek disclosure of all contact between NSW Police and the media,” Wrench said.

Wrench claimed that “within the space of one hour” of Jones initially being charged, it had been “leaked on the internet”.

“We seek full disclosure of that material,” he said.

In response, magistrate Daniel Covington said: “What can I do with all that?”

The magistrate said it was a matter for Jones’ lawyers and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).

“If you want to raise it down the track, you can raise it,” Covington said.

McClymont’s latest story, published online on Monday and in the newspaper today, was a result of court documents made publicly available by the Local Court on Monday.

Approached for comment on Tuesday, Herald editor Bevan Shields said: “The Herald is proud of Kate McClymont’s exemplary work on this matter. We stand by our reporting.”

A prosecutor from the ODPP sought an eight-week adjournment for further service of the brief of evidence.

Wrench leaves court on Tuesday with colleague Grace Nicholson (second from left).Credit: Max Mason-Hubers

Wrench said there was material outstanding, including a download of Jones’ phone and statements by investigative police.

Wrench also formally entered a not-guilty plea for Jones to the Tamworth charge, having previously done the same for the other 34 charges. However, magistrate Daniel Covington noted the case was not yet at that stage.

The case was adjourned to May 13, when Jones is excused from attending.

Jones was charged last year over dozens of allegations of indecent assault and sexual touching between 2001 and 2019. He is facing 20 counts of indecent assault, 11 counts of aggravated indecent assault, two counts of common assault and two counts of sexual touching.

Court documents, seen prior to the new charge, allege Jones fondled penises, stroked thighs, squeezed bottoms, kissed “using his tongue”, and pulled a man’s scrotum. He is further accused of masturbating during one alleged indecent assault.

Detectives from Strike Force Bonnefin sat in the second row of the busy public gallery on Tuesday.

The team of officers was formed following a major investigation by the Herald and The Age, which revealed allegations Jones used his position of power to prey on a number of young men, indecently assaulting them, groping or inappropriately touching them without consent.

Jones denied the allegations raised by the Herald and The Age in December 2023 and threatened to sue but did not commence a defamation action.

Outside court last year, Jones read a statement in which he protested his innocence.

“I am certainly not guilty, and I’ll be presenting my account to a jury,” he said.

“These allegations are all either baseless, or they distort the truth.”

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