Peter FitzSimons, a former Australian representative rugby union player turned journalist, began giving evidence on Thursday in the NSW Local Court trial of Alan Jones. The veteran broadcaster has pleaded not guilty to 22 counts of indecent assault and sexual touching involving six alleged victims, including a younger colleague referred to as Complainant C.
FitzSimons told the court he first met Jones in 1982 when Jones was coaching rugby, and later described the defendant as a "brilliant rugby league coach" after writing two articles for the Sydney Morning Herald in 2017 about his coaching skill.
It was after those articles that FitzSimons said he received a "very strong email from a young man" — though it is not suggested that young man was Complainant C. The journalist was called to give evidence about a conversation he had with Complainant C in October 2019, a day after 2GB shock jock Ray Hadley told him a younger colleague wanted to speak about his experience with Jones.
FitzSimons said he spoke to Complainant C as arranged. The man allegedly told him that Jones would "scrape or hold his penis" while in the car together, and kissed him in the lift to his Circular Quay apartment. FitzSimons said the complainant described Jones as "the most important powerful person at 2GB" and was "drawn in" to Jones's orbit.
"He couldn't quite believe that in the world that he was in … the number one person was noticing him," FitzSimons said. "He made clear … he was revolted by what had happened, but he was deeply upset at himself for not being stronger."
FitzSimons said Complainant C told him he did not say no to Jones at the time, but did push his hand away. The journalist told the court he immediately passed his notes from the phone call onto his colleague.