Tense moment Alan Jones was confronted by Mark ‘Chopper’ Read about public toilet arrest that shocked Australia on live TV
Murderer turned best-selling author Mark ‘Chopper’ Read confronted Alan Jones on live TV about his arrest in a public toilet more than 25 years ago, leaving the shock jock unusually at a loss for words.
‘Chopper’, a notorious criminal who claimed to have murdered up to seven people before transforming himself into a sympathetic villain and author of successful, semi-autobiographical novels, rang in March 1998 on the Midday Show, hosted by Kerri-Anne Kennerley.
The clip resurfaced online this week after Jones was charged on Monday with a series of historic sexual offenses following allegations that he abused his position of power as a top radio host to prey on young men.
The 1998 footage started with Chopper defending his decision to feed a man into a cement mixer.
“He was a heavy heroin dealer,” Chopper told a clearly unimpressed Kennerley.
“He’s killed more people than I ever killed in my wildest dreams.”
At this point Jones intervened with a lecture.
“There are law enforcement authorities in this country who are responsible for going after heroin dealers,” he said.
Mark ‘Chopper’ Read (pictured), a notorious criminal who claimed to have murdered seven people before transforming himself into a sympathetic villain and writer of successful, semi-autobiographical novels, called into the Midday Show hosted by Kerri-Anne Kennerley in March 1998
“It is not the responsibility of any Australian citizen to think that they can dismember and kill people because they deal in heroin, otherwise the law of the jungle would prevail and everyone would be the keeper of the law.”
Jones’ speech earned the audience applause, but he was completely caught off guard by Chopper’s next comment.
“People who throw rocks better make sure they don’t live in glass houses, Alan,” Chopper pointed out.
“We’re not talking about someone who lives in glass houses, Chopper,” Jones responded before the convicted criminal interrupted.
“Well, I’ve never been arrested in a public toilet in London.”
Chopper was referring to an episode from almost a decade earlier, in December 1988, when Jones was arrested in a public toilet near London’s Picaddily Circus and later charged with outraging public decency.
The toilets were located in an area known at the time as a gay beat and police had been instructed to target homosexuals meeting in public facilities.
All charges were later dropped and Jones has always maintained his innocence.
After Chopper’s comment, an audible gasp could be heard in the studio as Kennerly tried to defend her co-host.
Jones’ speech earned the audience’s applause, but he was completely blindsided by Chopper’s next comment (photo: Jones’ face during the confrontation)
Following Chopper’s comment, an audible gasp could be heard in the studio as Kennerly (pictured) tried to defend her co-host
Chopper was referring to an episode from almost a decade earlier, in December 1988, when Jones was arrested in a public toilet near London’s Picaddily Circus and later charged with outraging public decency (photo: Daily headline Mirror the next day)
“Chopper, I’m actually pulling the plug on this, I don’t feel like listening to anything else you have to say,” she said.
“Thank you very much for calling, that’s as polite as I can be.”
A quietly seething Jones then sought the moral high ground.
“As for Chopper Read’s last comment, I think it shows what kind of person we’re dealing with,” he said.
“Justice takes its course in all things and you don’t give those things any dignity by making any comment.”
The Herald Sun Deadline column said the audience was stunned by the interaction, while “the members of Midday’s camera crew nearly wet themselves with pure, unadulterated joy.”
“It was, as master comics writer Tony Martin noted 23 years later, an invaluable exchange,” the column said.
‘Martin mischievously noted in 2020: ‘A lot of people get stuck on Kerri-Anne Kennerley, but let’s never forget she was the one who introduced Alan Jones to Chopper Read in what remains one of Australian TV’s greatest moments’ .’
Jones, 83, was arrested at his Circular Quay apartment about 7.45am on Monday and taken to Day Street Police Station in the Sydney CBD after detectives searched his home.
He was later charged with 26 crimes involving nine alleged victims, spanning 20 years.
Jones’ attorney said he would defend the charges.
He was granted conditional bail and will appear in court on December 18.