Victim of Navy abuse scandal killed himself after complaints were dismissed, report claims
- The able seaman ended his life after allegations of being plied with alcohol and attacked by a senior nuclear submarine officer were ignored
- The victim’s family said naval leadership failed to take any action over the claims in 2020 because the incident occurred ‘off base’
- On Saturday, the Daily Mail revealed that the same officer has now been arrested for sexual assault
- First Sea Lord Admiral Ben Key described the recent revelations as ‘utterly abhorrent behaviour’
A victim of the Royal Navy’s ‘sexual abuse culture’ killed himself after his complaints against a superior were dismissed, it was reported yesterday.
The able seaman ended his life after allegations of being plied with alcohol and attacked by a senior nuclear submarine officer were ignored, according to The Sun.
The victim’s family said naval leadership failed to take any action over the claims in 2020 because the incident occurred ‘off base’, and instead told him to report it to the police.
On Saturday, the Daily Mail revealed that the same officer has now been arrested for sexual assault – just hours before he was due to attend training on the consequences of misconduct in the service.
A source told the Mail yesterday: ‘The outrage isn’t that this officer is a sexual predator who targets his juniors. The outrage is that the Navy has known about it for years and has completely failed in its duty to safeguard vulnerable people.
A victim of the Royal Navy’s ‘sexual abuse culture’ killed himself after his complaints against a superior were dismissed. (File photo)
‘Why has he not been sacked? And if they can’t sack him, who on earth thought it was a good idea to put him in a position of authority over young vulnerable people.’
The arrest came as the senior officer was due to attend a presentation to his ship’s company on ‘inappropriate sexual behaviour’ and its consequences.
Every member of the service has been directed to join the talks discussing the new policy of ‘zero tolerance to unacceptable sexual behaviour’.
It is part of a series of briefings being rolled out across the Navy after several whistleblowers exposed a systemic culture of sexual abuse and harassment in the service.
In a message on Twitter, First Sea Lord Admiral Ben Key described the recent revelations as ‘utterly abhorrent behaviour’.
In a message on Twitter, First Sea Lord Admiral Ben Key (pictured) described the recent revelations as ‘utterly abhorrent behaviour’
He added: ‘Hearing some of the testimonies and reading how lives have been affected has saddened me enormously… I and the senior leaders of the service are determined to root it out and remove it from everywhere and anywhere within the Royal Navy.’
A Navy spokesman said: ‘It would be inappropriate to comment on live or past cases. Unacceptable behaviour has no place in the Royal Navy and anyone who wishes to report criminal matters can do so anonymously to the Royal Navy Police.
‘Any activity which falls short of the highest of standards the Royal Navy sets itself will not be tolerated.’
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