Top equestrian Anthony Dean Thomas made up Federal Court Justice’s sexual harassment ruling on Facebook, court told
A top showjumper and trainer has admitted a Facebook post that claimed a Federal Court Justice had ruled in his favour was “made up”.
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A top equestrian horse trainer said he “made up” comments from a Federal Court Justice he posted on Facebook and said a young showjumper who has accused him of sexual harassment was “not necessarily” lying.
On Thursday the Federal Court heard the final day of evidence in the sexual harassment lawsuit against high profile show jumper Anthony Thomas who said he made public Facebook posts claiming governing bodies “disregarded” Kate Crauford’s claims.
Mr Thomas denies all alleged wrongdoing.
Holly Veale, for Ms Crauford, put to the 49-year-old in cross examination that the post, including the comments he attributed to Federal Court Justice Natalie Charlesworth, was a lie.
“You used the fact (the complaints) hadn’t gone any further to suggest that supported you doing nothing wrong,” Ms Veale said.
The post published on December 20, 2023, allegedly claimed Justice Charlesworth said “the text messages may not meet the legal definition of sexual harassment as Ms Crauford did not object to any of the content”.
When pressed by Ms Veale, Mr Thomas said he had “made it up” and “misinterpreted” the outcome of a prior hearing.
Mr Thomas said he had made the post as a way to “stand up for himself” as “every person has a right to” and had previously suffered “health issues” due to the proceedings against him.
Ms Veale also pressed about if Ms Crauford’s version of events in the lawsuit against him were a lie, and Mr Thomas responded they were “not necessarily” a lie.
Previously during cross examination, Ms Crauford told the court that she had witnessed Mr Thomas allegedly “rapping” his horse – an internationally illegal and abusive practise where the horse is struck on the legs while jumping.
The court previously heard Ms Crauford, who had flown from Florida for the hearing, tried to lodge a complaint with Equestrian SA and Australia, but was told the governing body was powerless to act because her claim was a day too late.
During his first day on the stand, Mr Thomas was asked about pending criminal charges relating to alleged horse abuse – to which he made the shocking claim he had “not been charged”.
Mr Thomas corrected himself that he had misunderstood the term charged.
Earlier in the trial, Mr Thomas said the complaint was filed against him due to Ms Crauford failing to buy a horse while they were on a trip in Sydney together – which Mr Thomas ended up purchasing himself.
The trial before Justice Stephen McDonald was adjourned to return to court next week for final submissions.
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Originally published as Top equestrian Anthony Dean Thomas made up Federal Court Justice’s sexual harassment ruling on Facebook, court told
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