Once paid handsomely for opening his mouth to share his opinions, long-time talkback host Alan Jones has remained quiet as his fight against indecent assault allegations begins.

The 85-year-old is facing the first day of a marathon local court hearing, having pleaded not guilty to 22 counts of indecent assault and sexual touching without consent.

Six complainants will allege Jones indecently assaulted or sexually touched them between 2003 and 2020 at various locations across Sydney and the NSW Southern Highlands.

None of the complainants can be identified for legal reasons.

Jones didn’t answer questions put to him by waiting journalists as he was ushered into Sydney’s Downing Centre Court by security on Monday.

Prosecutors are set to tell a local court judge the veteran broadcaster touched the groins of two men while they drove and groped another two at public functions.

The one-time Wallabies coach is also accused of kissing four of the complainants without their consent, three of them on multiple occasions.

Some of the men were allegedly repeatedly indecently assaulted, with eight charges related to one alleged victim and nine to another.

Jones has consistently denied the allegations against him, declaring that he “never indecently assaulted these people” in December 2024, a month after he was arrested.

“These allegations are all either baseless or they distort the truth,” he said.

“The law assumes that I am not guilty and I am not guilty.”

The former talkback host’s long-anticipated day in court comes more than a year and a half after he was arrested at his luxury apartment in Sydney’s Circular Quay.

It followed a months-long investigation into allegations aired in Nine newspapers.

Jones rose to prominence after he began broadcasting in 1985 and became a feared interviewer capable of grilling leaders while sharing his outspoken, conservative views.

He worked with Sydney radio station 2UE before joining rival 2GB, where he was a long-time ratings juggernaut.

His many controversies included suggesting former prime minister Julia Gillard’s father “died of shame” and encouraging former New Zealand leader Jacinda Ardern to be hit “with a few backhanders”.

Jones also coached the Australian national men’s rugby union team, the Wallabies, to victory in his first year when they achieved a grand slam of wins on their British Isles tour.

He has received a number of accolades for both his sports coaching and broadcasting contributions.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028

–AAP