Tonight:
5°c
Lesbian soldier wins £200,000 for taunts
Tim Stewart26 Nov 2008
A LESBIAN soldier who suffered a campaign of harassment by a male sergeant today won almost £200,000 in compensation.
Services groups branded the award “obscene” compared with payouts for injured troops.
Lance Bombardier Kerry Fletcher, 32, was pestered
for sex by her boss, Staff Sergeant Ian Brown, 40. He asked her to join in a threesome with another woman and boasted he could turn her “straight”.
He told her she was gay because she had “not had a real man” and texted her boasting of his sexual prowess.
Leeds employment tribunal heard how Brown and other male colleagues tried to destroy her career because she spurned his advances. After she complained of harassment, Miss Fletcher had her mental stability questioned, it heard.
The tribunal awarded her £186,896 from the Ministry of Defence for sexual harassment at the Royal Artillery stables at RAF Topcliffe. It found the MoD had paid “no more than lip service to the concepts of equal opportunities”.
It is believed to be the first time an employment tribunal has awarded exemplary damages in this country.
The National Gulf Veterans' and Families' Association described the award as “obscene”. The MoD faces a further bill of £100,000 for its defence costs.
Miss Fletcher, who joined the military in 1996 and the 40th Regiment in 2004, has three more victimisation claims pending.
Reader views (6)
This lesbian should not have got a single penny in compensation,this silly practice of giving money away for hurt feelings has got to stop.
- Stan White, leeds, 27/11/2008 09:38
Report abuse
Disgusting, it makes you wonder what the basis for reality is these days.
- Frank, Home Counties, England, 27/11/2008 09:32
Report abuse
Interesting that all the negative comments have come from men.
- Rekha, California, USA, 26/11/2008 20:34
Report abuse
No need to win the National Lottery. You just have to be one of a minority group and be thin-skinned. The endless tribunals (work and police) anxious to dole out massive amounts of government cash will do the rest. This lady might be entitled to some payout, but the amount here is absolutely obscene. These tribunals have no reality.
- Phil Jones, London UK, 26/11/2008 17:53
Report abuse
She is a disgrace to her uniform.£200,000 for 8 years service!
Punishment for her tormentors, but this is outrageous.
The NGV&FA is right, this payment is Obscene
- Ex Gay Soldier Mick, New York, 26/11/2008 17:31
Report abuse
Just as well she didn't suffer anything trivial; like losing both legs or her sight. That way she'd get far less.
- Bill Martin, london UK, 26/11/2008 17:06
Report abuse
