A prominent athlete who was allegedly indecently assaulted by Alan Jones says he was worried about offending the talkback titan because “he could destroy people”.
He was composed as he faced Jones inside a Sydney courtroom while he described the older man allegedly kissing him without consent at a sporting event, leaving him shocked and embarrassed.
“You looked great. I love you. I hope you can feel my kisses, darling”, Jones messaged the sportsman afterwards, according to texts read out in court on Monday.
The longtime shock jock allegedly seized the opportunity years later at his Circular Quay apartment, kissing the athlete on the side of his mouth and pressing his genitals against him.
Jones has been charged with one count each of indecent assault and sexual touching without consent against the sportsman, both of which he denies occurred.
The former 2GB breakfast host frequently told the athlete he loved him and sent flurries of kisses in texts that were aired in court.
When the sportsman sent him a photo, the court was told Jones replied: “I love this photo. I love you. I want to kiss you for hours.”
He followed up by saying he hoped he hadn’t offended the younger man, which prompted the sportsman to reply: “Not at all mate, it’s nice to be loved”.
“This is a person that says they love me and I believe it’s a person that is in love with me,” the athlete told the court when asked about the messages.
But he said he didn’t share the sentiment, saying: “I wasn’t in love with him in that kind of way.”
He said Jones’s message about wanting the athlete to feel his kisses “all over” made him feel uncomfortable.
The sportsman told the court he responded to Jones with texts addressing him as "mate" to reinforce the platonic nature of their relationship and create distance.
“‘Mate’ was my way of pushing him back I guess,” he said.
He explained he felt apprehensive about offending or upsetting the former Wallabies coach because of the influence he wielded over others.
“I was always concerned about the reputation he had and how he could destroy people,” the athlete said.
“He hurt brands, he hurt politicians.”
He will return to the witness box in a Sydney Local Court on Tuesday to continue testifying in Jones’s fight against 22 charges of indecent assault and sexual touching without consent.
The 85-year-old has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges, which relate to six complainants and date from 2003 to the end of Jones’s long-running and successful radio career.
His barrister claimed in her opening statement that rivalry, treachery, money, double dealing, and opportunism were at the heart of the case against her client.
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National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
