Full Breakdown
Alan Jones Trial Reduced to Five Complainants After Charge Withdrawal
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Development – Charge Dropped on September 21, 2026
On September 21, 2026, prosecutors in the Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney formally withdrew the sole indecent-assault charge linked to a 17-year-old former reporter, identified in court documents as “Complainant F.” The dismissal removes that complainant from the trial, leaving former broadcaster Alan Jones facing 21 remaining charges involving five men.
Background & Context
Alan Jones, an 85-year-old former 2GB radio host, has been on trial for a series of historic sexual-offence allegations spanning from 2003 to 2020. The case began in September 2025 with 44 counts relating to 11 alleged victims. Over the ensuing year, several charges have been withdrawn or downgraded, and the number of complainants has fallen from six to five following the latest prosecutorial decision.
Data & Statistics
- Original charges (Sept 2025): 44 counts, 11 complainants.
- Current charges (Sept 2026): 21 counts – 20 indecent-assault counts and 1 sexual-touching count.
- Remaining complainants: Five men, identified in court filings as “C,” “J,” “M,” “H,” and the withdrawn “F.”
- Evidence presented to date: Testimony from three complainants (C, J, M) and dozens of additional witnesses.
Official Statements & Responses
Prosecutors announced the withdrawal of the charge against Complainant F without providing a public explanation, stating only that the application had been accepted by Judge Glenn Walsh.
Judge Glenn Walsh expressed frustration with the defence’s strategy of calling witnesses who could not recall seeing Jones or the complainant at the relevant events, describing such testimony as of “little assistance” to the court.
Alan Jones has consistently denied all allegations. In response to the latest development, his legal team reiterated that the case is fundamentally about “media rivalry,” suggesting that rival broadcaster Ray Hadley has colluded to generate complaints aimed at damaging Jones’s reputation.
Defense barrister Gabrielle Bashir, SC highlighted inconsistencies in the complainants’ recollections, particularly regarding the positioning of individuals at the alleged incidents, and argued that the prosecution’s case relies on limited-probative evidence.
The prosecution maintains that the remaining charges are supported by credible testimony, including detailed accounts from Complainants C, J, and M, who described feeling intimidated by Jones’s influence when the alleged incidents occurred.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Witness testimony about the alleged non-consensual kiss involving Complainant M is divided. Four attendees at the 2015 awards night reported not seeing any contact, while the complainant insists the kiss occurred and was memorable. The court has also heard that a politician present at the event did not observe inappropriate behaviour. No definitive forensic evidence has been presented, and the prosecution has not disclosed the rationale for dropping the charge against Complainant F, leaving a gap in the public record.
What’s Next
The trial is scheduled to hear testimony from the fourth complainant, identified as “H,” later this week. Following that, additional witnesses who were present at the 2015 event are expected to be called before the court proceeds to examine the evidence of the remaining complainant. The case will continue under Judge Walsh’s oversight, with the jury set to consider the remaining 21 counts.
