How Alan Jones has gone from the king of Sydney radio to a hermit since explosive abuse allegations were first revealed

Sydney radio powerhouse Alan Jones fled the country and has then hid from the public after allegations of sexual abuse first aired against him just under a year ago. 

The broadcaster and former Wallabies coach is accused of indecently assaulting multiple young men and was arrested on Monday in a dramatic police swoop on his harbourside home.

Notorious for his outspoken views, the 83-year old one-time talkback king has been plagued by ill-health and become a virtual recluse since the allegations aired.

He initially flew out to the UK soon after the claims surfaced before later quietly returning to Australia but has kept a low profile ever since.

A fragile Jones was last seen in public in July on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland when he is believed to have spent the weekend at celebrity accountant Anthony Bells’ home. 

Clutching a walking stick, Jones was pictured being helped out of a car. 

Jones had also made a rare public appearance that month as a guest speaker at a dinner to celebrate Matt Canavan’s 10th anniversary in the Senate at The Paddock restaurant in the coastal town of Yeppoon, just outside Rockhampton, in Queensland.

He appeared in good spirits as he smiled while posing for photographs with other attendees, including Liberal National Party representatives Donna Kirkland and Glen Kelly and former Labor Party powerbroker Graham Richardson.

Jones has also reportedly put parts of his property empire up for sale, although the former 2GB star refuted that he was selling up. 

In February, Jones sold his South Brisbane investment apartment for $1.35million.

The two-bedroom, two-bathroom 190 square metre two-level Lower River Terrace apartment cost $200,000 in 1987. 

In March, Jones was also reported to be selling his harbourside apartment overlooking Circular Quay. 

Reports at the time suggested potential buyers had been shown through the property after signing confidentiality agreements. 

But Jones denied he was offloading his penthouse apartment in the landmark building known as the Toaster.

‘I have no plans to sell and the property is not on the market,’ he told the Sydney Morning Herald at the time. 

The asking price for the property remains unknown, but a source suggested to SMH it was a figure close to $20million. 

Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Jones is attempting to offload assets to avoid any kind of civil action that might follow a successful criminal prosecution. 

In March, after returning from London, Jones provided a five minute video to Newscorp mastheads in which he defiantly declared he would be back in action as soon as he was physically able and refuted the allegations.

‘I’m not going to dwell here on the allegations made about me other than I refute them entirely and the inferences associated with them,’ he said in his video.

‘But the ‘get Jones’ campaign is nothing new in my life.’

Jones said he had intended to resume his duties with right-wing online media network ADH TV in February, but was prevented from doing so by his ill health.

‘I have suffered no mental ageing, but I am living with two choices – constant pain where painkillers become totally ineffective or powerful medication with side effects including loss of agility and movement and erratic sleep,’ Jones said.  

‘I’ve every intention of returning to broadcasting eventually. It is what I do; my work has been my life.

‘So long as I feel things need to be said, I will say them.’

While Jones has long suffered from a crippling back injury, it had previously never stopped him from getting out-and-about. 

Jones was often photographed at social events and just a few years back was seen having a hit of tennis with his head of content and close personal confidant, Jake Thrupp. 

He retired from radio broadcasting in 2020 after a glittering career spanning decades at 2UE and 2GB, and briefly moved to Sky News Australia. 

The veteran broadcaster left Sky in 2021 and later announced he was going online with Alan Jones Direct To The People to produce daily shows, updates and podcasts. 

His last show on the streaming station aired in November 2023.

Jones is accused of using his position of power, first as a teacher and later as the country’s top-rating radio broadcaster, to allegedly prey on a number of young men. 

Jones has long denied what he called ‘scandalous, grossly offensive’ claims.

When news of the allegations broke last year, Jones’ lawyers, Mark O’Brien Legal, claimed they had taken an early step in commencing defamation action against the news outlet.

‘The allegations against Alan Jones by Kate McClymont published today in the Nine newspapers are demonstrably false,’ a statement from his lawyers read then.

‘In the short time available since publication we have obtained substantial factual information which contradicts and refutes the alleged pattern of conduct by Mr Jones.

‘We have retained Senior Counsel and have instructions to immediately serve a Concerns Notice under Section 12A of the Defamation Act as the first step in the commencement of defamation proceedings. 

‘There will be no further comment by or on behalf of Mr Jones.’