Kate Crauford launches legal action against Anthony Dean Thomas

One of South Australia’s leading equestrian identities sexually harassed a promising young horse rider 25 years his junior as he tried to “groom” her, a lawsuit alleges.

Talented equestrian horse rider Kate Crauford, with her horse Oaks Cairo. She is suing leading coach and administrator Anthony Thomas in the Federal Court alleging sexual harassment. Pictures: supplied

One of South Australia’s leading equestrian identities sexually harassed a promising young horse rider 25 years his junior as he tried to “groom” her, a lawsuit alleges.

Kate Crauford, 23, has launched Federal Court action against decorated Adelaide Hills equestrian coach, state selector and administrator Anthony Dean Thomas, 48.

Court documents allege that as a teenager she suffered sexual harassment from being bombarded with hundreds of inappropriate, and offensive messages, seeing him semi-naked and repeatedly being left feeling uncomfortable.

Ms Crauford, an American-based rising star show jumper formerly of Mount Gambier, is suing for undisclosed damages over claims he unlawfully breached her human rights three years ago.

Mr Thomas, who owns a $3m, 46ha Paechtown property, on Mount Barker’s outskirts, denies all allegations, insisting he always acted appropriately and his messages were “friendly banter”.

In her human rights claim, released by the court, she details a series of incidents between October and December 2020 when she was aged 19 and Thomas was 45 years-old.

The court has heard the case involved more than 1500 social media messages – including late at night and early morning and ended with kisses – which, it was alleged, amounted to sexual harassment.

Sophie Crauford, mother of Kate Crauford, flanked by lawyers entering the Federal Court. Picture: Russell Millard

Mr Thomas, who has been embroiled in Supreme Court action with Equestrian Australia over a sports ban, allegedly called her a “hot bar chick all the lads chat up”, described her as a “babe”, “naughty” and “princess”, as well as one of “kindest most beautiful girls I know of”.

Court documents detail three incidents of concern to her in December 2020, during a Sydney trip.

This included Mr Thomas laying on her bed before “leering” at her, standing in her bedroom doorway the next day “only wearing a towel loosely wrapped around his waist” and then rubbing her leg while driving.

“(His) course of conduct … amounted to sexual advances, unwelcome requests for sexual favours (to her) or … other unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature,” her claim states.

“A reasonable person, having regard to all the circumstances … would have anticipated the possibility that (Ms Crauford) would be offended, humiliated or intimidated.”

Anthony Thomas leaves the Supreme Court. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

Anthony Thomas riding horse Fluke during showjumping event at Colley Reserve in 1999.

Ms Crauford, then an international business student at Flinders University seeking a US professional athletes visa, was competing in junior championships when she claimed he made “persistent offers” for goods, including horses, mentorships, support and other career opportunities.

Ms Crauford, now based at Wellington near Palm Beach, Florida, initially sued Mr Thomas – who owns Southern Sport Horses and Saddleworth Mt Barker – in the Australian Human Rights Commission after state and federal equestrian bodies allegedly failed to act.

Her 53-page complaint laid bare allegations of inappropriate conduct, which she described as “volatile” and “manipulative” behaviour that left her feeling “unsafe”.

“I am now able to recognise the grooming he attempted to do in order to manipulate me,” she claimed.

Her “disturbing experience” severely affected her sleep and mental health due to anxiety, she alleged.

The Commission terminated her case in July this year after ruling “there is no reasonable prospect of the matter being settled by conciliation”, paving the way for the lawsuit.

In his statement of defence, filed with the court, Mr Thomas denied he “engaged in a course of unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature”, made “unwelcome advances towards her” or she was eligible for damages.

While he admitted sending many messages, it was friendly or taken out of context.

“His conduct was of a friendly nature between two showjumping competitors who competed at the same (events) over a period from at least July 2014 to December 2020,” it states.

“The Facebook messages displayed friendly banter between the parties and, on no occasion, included any responding messages from (Ms Crauford) that she objected to their content or was made uncomfortable by them.”

The court heard the messages may not meet the legal definition of sexual harassment.

Justice Natalie Charlesworth ordered a trial in June 2024 after rejecting Mr Thomas’ bid for a new dispute resolution hearing.

Both parties refused to comment outside court.