Australian broadcaster hit with more sex offences

Controversial Australian broadcaster and former Wallabies coach Alan Jones has been hit with two additional charges, after being arrested on Monday for a string of alleged historical sex crimes.A NSW police spokesman said the veteran broadcaster was charged with an additional two counts of indecent assault relating to a ninth victim, bringing the total to 26 charges, including 11 counts of aggravated indecent assault against people that had been employed by Jones.The 83-year-old is a household name across Australia and for years held immense sway through his top-rating radio talk show.In a colourful career, he also coached the national men's rugby team, was a speechwriter for an Australian prime minister, and taught at one of the country's most prestigious schools.Detectives from a dedicated child abuse squad arrested Jones on Monday while executing a search warrant at his luxury Sydney Harbour apartment.He was later released on bail ahead of a court appearance in Sydney.Jones has strenuously denied prior allegations of indecent assault which surfaced in the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper late last year."We will allege that the accused knew some of them personally. Some of them professionally," state crime commander Michael Fitzgerald told reporters.The youngest victim was 17 years old at the time of the alleged offending, Fitzgerald said."I wish to commend the victims and their bravery in coming forward. They are fully aware, as are the investigators, that the hard work is just beginning."Whether as a sports coach, aspiring politician or radio heavyweight, Jones has spent decades in the public eye.He rose to fame while coaching the Australian rugby side in the 1980s, leading the Wallabies to a rare "grand slam" over England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland.His feats as a coach and administrator earned him a place in Australia's sports hall of fame, where he was inducted in 1989. (Agencies)

Controversial Australian broadcaster and former Wallabies coach Alan Jones has been hit with two additional charges, after being arrested on Monday for a string of alleged historical sex crimes. A NSW police spokesman said the veteran broadcaster was charged with an additional two counts of indecent assault relating to a ninth victim, bringing the total to 26 charges, including 11 counts of aggravated indecent assault against people that had been employed by Jones. The 83-year-old is a household name across Australia and for years held immense sway through his top-rating radio talk show.

In a colourful career, he also coached the national men's rugby team, was a speechwriter for an Australian prime minister, and taught at one of the country's most prestigious schools. Detectives from a dedicated child abuse squad arrested Jones on Monday while executing a search warrant at his luxury Sydney Harbour apartment. He was later released on bail ahead of a court appearance in Sydney.

Jones has strenuously denied prior allegations of indecent assault which surfaced in the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper late last year. "We will allege that the accused knew some of them personally. Some of them professionally," state crime commander Michael Fitzgerald told reporters.

The youngest victim was 17 years old at the time of the alleged offending, Fitzgerald said. "I wish to commend the victims and their bravery in coming forward. They are fully aware, as are the investigators, that the hard.