Alan Jones’ high-profile lawyer has remarkably taken aim at a Nine journalist in court over concerns of an “anti-Jones crusade”.
Jones was excused from attending a brief hearing of his indecent assault case on Tuesday and was instead represented by star criminal lawyer Bryan Wrench in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court.
The hearing comes after the ex-radio presenter was charged with a fresh indecent assault charge relating to an 11th alleged victim.
Mr Wrench told the court he was “concerned” that Sydney Morning Herald journalist Kate McClymont had published an article with new allegations against Jones on Tuesday when she was due to be called as a witness in the case.
“As of today, she published an article in the Sydney Morning Herald… when she is going to be a witness called,” Mr Wrench said.
The lawyer said he was concerned it would be part of an “anti-Jones crusade”.
Ms McClymont, an investigative reporter, broke the initial story with the allegations against Jones which were published in the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age in December last year.
Mr Wrench told the court he was seeking the “disclosure of all contact between NSW Police and the media”.
He claimed before Jones was even interviewed, the charge was laid, and “within the space of one hour” it “had been leaked” in the media.
In Ms McClymont’s latest story published this week, she included details of Jones’ 11th alleged victim, citing court documents.
The complainant, named as “K”, alleges Jones assaulted him by grabbing and squeezing him on “his left bottom”.
The alleged offence occurred on June 1, 2013 in Tamworth in north-eastern New South Wales.
Mr Wrench told the court his client would be entering a plea of not guilty to the new charge.
An evidence brief was also received by Mr Wrench’s office last Thursday, the court heard.
Mr Wrench was swarmed by members of the media as he left court on Tuesday and declined to respond to questions about Jones or his comments in court.
In a statement last Friday, New South Wales Police confirmed an additional charge of assault with act of indecency had been laid, bringing the total number of alleged offences to 35.
Jones pleaded not guilty to 34 charges during his last court appearance in December.
The case centres on alleged indecent assault and sexual touching incidents spanning almost two decades between the years 2001 and 2019.
Police will allege the youngest of Jones’ victims was 17 years old at the time.
In March 2024, Strike Force Bonnefin was established by the State Crime Command’s Child Abuse Squad to probe the allegations.
Jones now faces 20 counts of indecent assault, 11 counts of aggravated indecent assault, two counts of sexually touching another person without consent and two counts of common assault.
Speaking outside court in December, Jones declared he was “emphatic” in defending himself against the allegations.
“Firstly, let me say this: I am certainly not guilty, and I’ll be presenting my account to a jury as you heard this morning,” he told reporters at the time.
“I will not be engaging in a running commentary in the media, but, I want you to understand this – these allegations are all either baseless or they distort the truth.
“And you should know that prior to my arrest, I was given no opportunity by police to answer any of these allegations.
“I have never indecently assaulted these people. The law assumes that I’m not guilty, and I am not guilty.
“That’s all I can say at the moment, but I am emphatic that I’ll be defending every charge before a jury in due course.”
Jones remains on bail and the case has been adjourned until May 13, with his appearance to be excused.
