#UK RACING: Robbie Dunne bullied, harassed Bryony Frost

Jockey Robbie Dunne has been found in breach on all four counts of conduct prejudicial to horseracing after the disciplinary panel of the British Horseracing Authority ruled he had bullied and harassed fellow rider Bryony Frost.

Dunne was charged with seven breaches in total, four of conduct prejudicial to horseracing and three of violent and threatening behaviour, with all but one of those charges denied.

An independent three-person panel, chaired by Brian Barker QC, found the four prejudicial conduct breaches to have been proven, while the latter three are yet to be considered.

The majority of the incidents in question took place in 2020, when Dunne was found by the panel to have threatened Frost by promising to "put her through a wing (of a fence)" and he was also accused of using misogynistic language such as "f****** whore", "f****** slut" and "dangerous c***" towards her.

The panel is set to hear submissions on penalties by the BHA and Dunne's legal team shortly.

Barker said: "Our conclusion on the whole of the evidence is that a course of deliberate conduct over a significant period of time has been revealed.

"This has progressed from distasteful targeting to deliberate harassment on and off the course and onwards to occasional cases of dangerous bullying.

"We find that the words used on September 3 were, as a promise, to cause real harm - over and above the usual jockey mantra of 'murdering'.

"On the examination of Ms Frost's evidence and demeanour we find her to be truthful, thoughtful and compelling.

"By taking her complaint to the authority she has broken the code (of the weighing room), knowing that her isolation - and rejection by some - was inevitable."

The verdict was announced shortly after Frost had won the opening race at Warwick on Graystone, her only ride of the day.