Those prosecuting retired radio king Alan Jones have withdrawn an allegation he had indecently assaulted a 17-year-old boy.
The 85-year-old former ruler of Sydney’s airwaves is in the eighth week of his estimated four-month fight against 22 charges of indecent assault and sexual touching without consent.
Six complainants allege Jones kissed, groped, or subjected them to sexual misconduct between 2003 and the end of his highly influential broadcasting career in 2020.
Two of those were aged under 18 at the time of the alleged incidents.
But crown prosecutor Georgina Wright SC made a surprise announcement in the NSW Local Court on Monday.
One charge of indecent assault against a 17-year-old boy was to be withdrawn and dismissed, she told the court.
No reason was given.
During her opening statement, Ms Wright foreshadowed the complainant would tell the court Jones had placed his hands on his bottom and squeezed it at a function.
She said she expected the court would be told that he had mentioned the incident to a confidante but hadn’t reported it because it was his word against that of the talkback titan.
Jones denies the alleged groping took place, as with all of the other charges against him.
The dismissal of the charge means Jones is now facing 21 charges related to five complainants, one of whom was 17 years old at the time of the alleged offending.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
