As it happened: Robbie Dunne disciplinary hearing chronology

On Thursday, Robbie Dunne was banned from racing for 18 months, with the last three of those months suspended, after an independent disciplinary panel found him guilty of bullying and harassing weighing-room colleague Bryony Frost. Here is what happened during each day of the disciplinary process.

Day 1 - Tuesday, November 30

The much-anticipated start of the disciplinary hearing gets off to a false start, with much of the first day taken up by legal arguments in camera between the two sides.

By the time the hearing is open to the media to report, Louis Weston QC, representing the BHA, tells the panel that Dunne called Frost a "f****** whore" and a "dangerous c***", which left her in tears, as well as making threats to physically harm her.

Day 2 - Wednesday, December 1

Bryony Frost is called to give evidence, appearing in person and undergoing three hours of cross-examination by Roderick Moore, representing Dunne.

Frost, visibly emotional at times, speaks about being isolated in the weighing room since bringing the complaint and of her belief that other female riders had not expressed a similar view of the weighing room because they were “protecting themselves”.

She accuses Dunne of “opening his towel and shaking himself” at her in the past and claims Tom Scudamore, who she was previously friendly with, no longer spoke with her.

Frost says she regrets telling Dunne that “people must like me” after he confronts her at Fontwell on September 12, 2020 following a call from someone allegedly threatening to break his legs.

Day 3 - Thursday, December 2

Testimony is heard from a number of individuals about what was or was not allegedly said at Stratford on July 8 and at Southwell in September last year.

An unnamed male fence attendant described allegedly hearing Dunne call Frost a “f****** slut” at Stratford as a “whoa moment”.

Three valets working at Southwell described the altercation as “bickering”, while former amateur rider Hannah Welch says Dunne had allegedly confronted her at Chepstow in 2018 and made her cry by “shouting and swearing”.

Former BHA head of integrity Chris Watts was cross-examined by Moore over the quality of his investigation, including over the contents of witness statements and his alleged relationship with the Frosts.

Day 4 - Tuesday, December 7

The defence opens, with Dunne saying that “put you through a wing” is a “figure of speech” and not a threat. He also says he had never “opened my towel and shaken myself” in front of Frost.

Dunne claims allegations of bullying against him were only made after he received an anonymous call from someone with a “West Country accent” who threatened to break his legs, with those connected to the call realising they had “gone too far”.

Richard Johnson tells the panel he never heard Dunne say he “promised” to hurt Frost, while Lucy Gardner says she and fellow female riders “didn’t feel we had any problems” with Dunne.

Scudamore rejects claims he no longer spoke with Frost, while Nico de Boinville, Gavin Sheehan, Ben Poste and Lizzie Kelly also give evidence as defence witnesses.

Valet Chris Maude is asked about an attempted reconciliation between Frost and Dunne at Kempton in February that came to nothing, and whether he knew three valets who worked for him and had testified had that day refused to work for Frost at Fontwell.

Day 5 - Wednesday, December 8

Closing arguments are presented by both sides. Weston, for the BHA, says Dunne pursued a “vendetta” against Frost and that the weighing room culture was “sour, rancid and one that we say should be thrown out and discarded”. He adds: “Its time, if ever it had its time, has gone.”

Moore, for Dunne, says it would be “grossly unfair” to judge Dunne on anything other than the culture as it is and that "weapons grade language" is used due to the dangerous nature of riding.

Panel chair Brian Barker sets out the intention to deliver a verdict by noon on Thursday.

Day 6 - Thursday, December 9

Dunne is banned for 18 months, three of them suspended, by the three-person independent disciplinary panel. In the most serious charge he faced, the rider is found to have engaged in 'conduct prejudicial to the integrity, proper conduct and good reputation of horse racing by bullying and harassing a fellow jockey'. The ban comes into immediate effect, and Dunne has seven days to appeal.

Read more on this subject:

Robbie Dunne banned for 18 months for bullying and harassing Bryony Frost

Comment: weighing room culture allowed a poisonous situation to fester – it must change

BHA chief rejects 'rancid' picture of weighing room but says racing must change

'Absolute disgrace' – jockeys' body slams BHA over weighing room claims

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