Jones ‘to stay and fight’

Press, 8 December 1988, Page 48

Jones ‘to stay and fight’

NZPA-AAP London The former Australian rugby coach, Alan Jones.’ is likely to remain in Britain to fight a public indency charge, his legal representatives said yesterday. Jones, aged 45. pleaded not guilty to the charge in. a brief appearance in Marlborough Street magistrates court yesterday, and was granted uncondi--tional bail to appear again on January 25 next year.

“I believe that he will be staying in this country’ to deal with this charge and he’s not going anywhere until he’s found not guilty,” his solicitor, Mr Stephen Reading, said. “He will stay and fight.”

Jones was arrested on Tuesday in London’s West End on charges of outraging public decency.

The two charges he faced decreased to one’, when the prosecution dropped the more serious common law charge of committing an act of public indecency.

He pleaded not guilty to the second offence of public indecency under the by-laws of the City of Westminster.

Mr Reading described; the lesser offence, which does not involve "committing an act,” as minor with a maximum fine of' £5O ($142.37). .1

Jones’s visit to London coincided with the annual, university rugby match, between Oxford and Cam-’ bridge at Twickenham. - Jones, a former student at Oxford, has in the past, helped the university; team prepare for the match, but did not attend yesterday’s game. ;

He arrived at the court in a chauffeur-driven red: Mercedes Benz limousine to face a waiting group of about 30 reporters.

Outside the court afterwards, Jones smiled briefly at reporters as Mr Reading read out a statement.

"Mr Jones could have left by the back door, but instead he came out through the front because he wished to speak to you,” he said.

“Mr Jones is a man of good character. He is completely innocent of the charge against him.” He would “vigorously defend” himself against the charge. Meanwhile, Jones’s appointment as a consultant to the New South Wales Department of Corrective Services is reportedly being reviewed.