Mother testifies that son's behavior changed after stay at Alan Jones' farm

At the trial of veteran broadcaster Alan Jones, who faces 21 counts of indecent assault and sexual touching, the mother of one complainant recounted her son's changed demeanor after staying at Jones' farm near Fitzroy Falls. She said she felt comfortable letting her son go because Jones had acted as a mentor and had assisted the family financially, including arranging a meeting with the head of the Commonwealth Bank. Upon his return, the boy stayed awake and later sent a brief letter hinting that something untoward had happened, yet he insisted he had not been raped.

The mother broke down while testifying and said she told her son to cease contact with Jones. Prosecutor Georgina Wright SC asked why the mother continued correspondence with Jones, noting the family's ongoing financial concerns. The testimony adds a personal dimension to the case, which involves alleged assaults on five males between 2003 and 2020.