The mother of Alan Jones’s youngest alleged victim continued seeking personal guidance from the veteran broadcaster after her teenage son was allegedly indecently assaulted at his rural property, a court has heard.

The Downing Centre Local Court was told on Thursday that the divorced mother maintained an ongoing correspondence with Jones, relying on his influence and mentorship despite the alleged offence taking place at his Fitzroy Falls farm in the Southern Highlands.

Jones, 85, has pleaded not guilty to 21 charges spanning indecent assault and aggravated sexual touching relating to multiple complainants.

Ongoing contact following Southern Highlands visit

Giving evidence before the Sydney court, the mother explained why she continued to communicate with the former top-rating radio host long after the alleged incident involving her son took place.

As reported by The Guardian Australia, the woman told the magistrate that she had developed an ingrained habit of self-doubt following her divorce, which led her to continually second-guess her decisions and defer to prominent authority figures.

Explaining her decision to maintain regular communication with Jones, she testified that she held his judgment in exceptionally high regard at the time.

“I knew he knew about everything; he had an opinion about everything,” the mother told the court.

She said the broadcaster’s commanding public persona and perceived wisdom meant she continued to solicit his input on various family matters, despite the grave allegations that would subsequently form part of the criminal brief against him.

Broadcaster denies 21 offences spanning decades

Jones, who dominated Sydney’s commercial airwaves across several decades as host of breakfast programs on 2UE and 2GB, was arrested late last year following an extensive police investigation by detectives from Strike Force Bonnefin.

The charges relate to allegations from several young men spanning a period between the late 1990s and the 2010s. The former Wallabies coach has repeatedly and vehemently denied any unlawful conduct or wrongdoing, instructing his legal team to vigorously contest all 21 counts on the indictment.

The alleged Fitzroy Falls incident involving the teenager forms one of the central pillars of the prosecution’s case against the former radio host, who remains on conditional bail while the protracted court proceedings continue in the Downing Centre complex.

Scrutiny of family dynamics and parental trust

The hearing highlighted the intense scrutiny surrounding the relationships Jones cultivated with young protégés and their parents throughout his decades in the public spotlight.

During cross-examination, counsel examined the frequency and nature of the correspondence between the mother and the media figure, focusing on the apparent inconsistency between the severe allegations now before the court and the deferential tone of the historical messages.

The court heard the family had looked up to Jones as a powerful mentor capable of unlocking educational and career opportunities. The prosecution contends Jones leveraged his immense social status, wealth, and connections to gain access to vulnerable young men, while the defence maintains the interactions were entirely benign and consensual or fabricated.

The hearing before the Downing Centre Local Court continues.