Alan Jones trial: Prominent athlete tells Sydney court alleged kiss is something he ‘can’t get out of my memory’

Warning: Graphic content

A prominent athlete says Alan Jones kissed him without his consent and “I can’t get it out of my memory”, a court has been told.

Mr Jones has denied allegations that he groped and kissed six male complainants and is standing trial in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court.

One man, referred to as Complainant M, has told the court that Mr Jones kissed him on the corner of his mouth at an event in Sydney more than a decade ago.

He has also told the court that Mr Jones kissed him without his consent and pressed his genitalia against his thigh at the former talkback host’s Circular Quay apartment.

M has returned to the witness box for the third day on Thursday and is being cross-examined by Mr Jones’ barrister Gabrielle Bashir SC.

‘Lots of love’

M was on Thursday questioned about text messages he exchanged with Mr Jones on the night of the alleged kiss at the event in Sydney.

In one message, Mr Jones told M that he looked “beautiful” that night.

M responded twice in five minutes, the court was told, telling Mr Jones, “Let me know when we can catch up. Lots of love”.

Ms Bashir said it would have been easy for him not to reply given the time of night.

M told the court that he replied: “because I wish what happened had not happened”.

“I wanted things to go back to normal,” he said.

M told the court that he was “agonising” over the message and how to reply.

Shirtless photo

The court was told M sent Mr Jones a shirtless photo in 2015.

Mr Jones sent him a text asking how he was and at the time M was overseas at a photo shoot.

“This well haha,” M said to Mr Jones in the text, with a shirtless picture attached.

The court was told Mr Jones replied: “I love the photo. I love you. I want to kiss you for hours. That is beautiful.”

Mr Jones later sent M a message saying he hoped his message did not offend him and M replied: “Not at all mate, it’s nice to be loved.”

M told the court he replied with “mate” because he did not want the shirtless photo to be perceived as “anything flirty”.

‘About-face’

M was on Thursday pressed about discrepancies in his descriptions he had given to police about the alleged kiss in front of hundreds of people at the event in Sydney.

The court has been told that he gave five statements to police over two years, from 2024 to 2026.

In one of the statements, M told police that he was facing away from the audience and Mr Jones was facing towards the audience during the alleged kiss.

However, in another statement to police, he said the alleged kiss occurred when he was coming off the stage, and Mr Jones was going on.

On Thursday, M agreed there were differences between his police statements but denied it was an “about-face” and told the court “both things are true”.

‘Can’t get it out of my memory’

Ms Bashir suggested to M that Mr Jones’ side would have been facing towards the audience based on his description, given where Mr Jones’ table was.

During his evidence to the court earlier in the week, the ex-sportsman said Mr Jones got up from his chair and M was coming off stage when the alleged kiss occurred.

Ms Bashir suggested to M that Mr Jones remained on stage at the time when M alleged the kiss happened.

“I’m not sure,” M replied.

M denied the alleged kiss could not have occurred because of his description of the event.

“I know the kiss happened because I can’t get it out of my memory,” he said.

M further said he may not be able to recall specifics such as which direction people were facing.

The trial continues.

If you or someone you know needs help, contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), or Sexual Assault Counselling Australia on 1800 211 028.

Lifeline: 13 11 14.