Australian police have charged former radio show host Alan Jones with assault

SYDNEY: Australian police on Monday charged former radio show host Alan Jones with 24 counts of criminal sexual touching, charges that followed allegations in a newspaper that Jones had assaulted young men for decades.

Police confirmed the arrest and charges against an 83-year-old man in Sydney, but did not name him.

He was widely identified by Australian media as Alan Jones and TV footage showed him in a police car arriving at a police station on Monday.

Police allege the crimes took place between 2001 and 2019 against eight victims, some of whom knew Jones professionally or personally. The youngest was 17 when the crime was committed, they said.

Now that charges have been laid, more alleged victims are likely to come forward, New South Wales Police Assistant Commissioner Michael Fitzgerald said at a news conference.

Reuters has requested comment from Jones. He denied allegations of assault made against him by police last year Sydney Morning Herald newspaper. Police said the “energy” generated by the stories had helped bring the case to court.

Jones has been hosting radio shows and anchoring the popular for decades Breakfast show in Sydney on radio station 2GB for approximately 18 years until 2020.

A noted conservative “shock jock,” listeners knew Jones for his sharp questions and equally sharp tongue. In 2019, he said then Prime Minister Scott Morrison should give his then New Zealand counterpart Jacinda Ardern a “couple of backhanders” and “shove a sock down her throat” over her views on climate change.

Jones has faced defamation lawsuits many times.

After departure 2GBhe worked at a digital start-up, but has since been out of business Sydney Morning Herald accusations were made.