Veteran broadcaster Alan Jones groped the genitals of two men while they were driving and tried to kiss several others without their consent, a Sydney court has heard on the first day of a high-profile trial.

The influential media figure and former coach of Australia’s national rugby team is facing 20 charges of indecent assault and two of sexual touching against six men.

Jones, 85, denies all the charges, which allegedly took place between 2003 and 2020, either at public events or at Jones’s homes or workplace.

On Monday, his lawyers questioned the credibility of the victims, saying the case was motivated by “rivalry, treachery, double-dealing, money, hatred, desperation, opportunism and more”.

In opening statements, prosecutors detailed the claims of the alleged victims.

One man, known as complainant J, was a teenager when he first met Jones during an on-air interview about his recent sporting achievements.

Jones later gifted the teen a mobile phone, a car and also paid him AU$400 every fortnight, with the payment later increasing to $600, prosecutors alleged.

On one occasion, when the pair were driving to Jones’s property in Fitzroy Falls about two hours south of Sydney, Jones allegedly touched the victim’s penis and later tried to kiss him, without consent.

Nine of the charges relate to complainant J, who was 17 years old when the alleged offending began.

The packed court room also heard that another alleged victim, complainant C, worked as Jones’s driver and is expected to give evidence that Jones touched his penis on several occasions as he drove the radio host home from work.

Jones also tried to kiss him, often in the lift at the radio studios, prosecutors said, with the groping and kisses done without the victim’s consent.

Jones also sent explicit messages to complainant C, prosecutors said, alleging that the victim felt he had to respond or risk his career.

Another victim was a 17-year-old high school student who was invited to Jones’s Fitzroy Falls property where the radio star tried to kiss him.

During the defence’s opening statements, Jones’s lawyers said the he had been put through a “trial by media” and that his rivals had encouraged the victims to make their complaints.

Jones’s lawyers said some of the victims had “concocted” their allegations and that in a court, the claims must be proved beyond reasonable doubt.

The judge-only trial is expected to hear from more than 70 witnesses.

Jones was first arrested in November 2024, after police launched an investigation into sex abuse claims that were initially reported by the Sydney Morning Herald.

For decades, Jones dominated Sydney’s airwaves with his talkback radio show on 2GB. He retired in 2020, citing health problems.

Before broadcasting, Jones was a teacher and during the mid-80s, he coached the Wallabies – Australia’s national rugby team – for four years.