A Gay Soldier Speaks Out
Last year in a landmark case 32-year-old Lance Bombardier Kerry Fletcher was awarded £187,000 in compensation after a campaign of sexual harassment by a senior officer.
Here's how the story was reported by The Sun: "Bullied lesbian wants £400k Army compo" at the time.
And here's the Daily Mail: Lesbian soldier pestered for sex by her male boss wins 'obscene' £200,000 payout.
And here's The Telegraph: MoD apologises to lesbian soldier Kerry Fletcher over harassment
Ms Fletcher has never given any interviews - until today. You can hear her talk for the first time about the sexuallly explicit messages she received from her line manager, a senior officer, Staff Sgt Ian Brown at RAF Topcliffe in North Yorkshire. She speaks about how her life was made a misery and wrecked her career in the army:
In order to see this content you need to have both Javascript enabled and Flash installed. Visit BBC Webwise for full instructions. If you're reading via RSS, you'll need to visit the blog to access this content.
Plus she responds to those critics who point out that she received more than some British soliders injured in Iraq and Afghanistan.
What do you think of her payout? Of her treatment?
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~00~RS~)
Comments
Sign in or register to comment.
I completely agree that the soldier who was sexually harassed should have her complaint upheld and a full apology is right and proper, but the financial compensation is outrageous!
Will the money take back the words and deeds that hurt and offended her so much? Will her life be wrecked by this? I doubt it.
The military personnel that have suffered unspeakable injuries - some of whom the MoD are appealing to LESSEN the financial award made to them - need that financial support for many more reasons than this woman does.
I'm amazed at the downright gall and selfishness of such money grabbing individuals who appear to have lost a grip of what really matters in life in the name of "human Rights" I'm sick of this....
Complain about this comment
Welcome to screwed up Britain
soldiers who have their feelings hurt get more money than those who have their arms and legs blown off!
Complain about this comment
Agree entirely with message 1.
Complain about this comment
I can't write what I want to say because she would probably sue me for financial gain.
Complain about this comment
This woman is a disgrace to all professional soldiers, "Give me the money I deserve". This sums up her whole attitude. Its all about the money, and nothing to do with decency or fairness.
She must hang her head in shame.
Complain about this comment
Having to leave the Army, doesn't mean she'll never work again. Soldiers who've had arms and legs blown off will probably never get another job.
She was given far too much.
Complain about this comment
Does anyone care about this story? GCSE results have just come out, which i would have thought will be a lot more important and garner a lot more comment and interest from any listeners that are left.
Complain about this comment
Aftre having listened to her, I think the Army is better off without her.
Greedy, grasping, woman.
Complain about this comment
I knew this issue would bring the Daily Mail readers out in force.
Kerry Fletcher was treated abhorrently by a moron and her employer did nothing about it.
Human rights are what our soldiers are fighting for, yet it seems that we should not have
human rights for citizens of the UK who happen to be in the armed forces.
You couldn't make it up.... Welcome to Conservative Britain.
Complain about this comment
Hi,Victoria,Just signed up to bbc,to comment on this, this is how angry I am about this! My daughter has Aspergers Syndrome she was harassed bullied in& out of school for many many years we had to move.It was dreadful she never got any help neither did we she still suffers from this it would take me so long to tell you what she & we as a family suffered & yet A grown woman who had a few comments given to her ends up with money like this its ridiculous. If my daughter had a pound for every human right that was violated against her she would be a millionaire!
Complain about this comment
I am listening to this "recorded" interview thinking that if this woman really beleived that it is alright for her to be awarded this amount of money, she would appear live on the show and then take calls from listeners and respond, whether good or bad. People take far worse abuse day in day out..If she had not joined the army, she would have received nothing...she was not cut out for the army.
Complain about this comment
Message 9.
This is a Labour Britain in case you hadn't noticed.
Complain about this comment
The compensation recieved by injured soldiers is a completely seperate issue. The fact of the matter is that injury at war is not a matter for the criminal / civil courts and is dealt with in an entirely seperate way. I agree, that compensation for lost limbs etc seems to be inadequate, but this should not mean that the lady in question is unable to recieve, whatthe court has decided is adequate compensation for her psychological trauma.
This lady's compensation reflective of the hurt SHE felt - I wonder if people would be saying this was not the case if she wasn't gay, or if a straight man had been subjected to sexually explicit texts from a gay man he had no interest in.
Complain about this comment
The payout was fully justified and has nothing, absolutely nothing, to do with the amounts received by people hurt in action. Of course soldiers don't get enough when they're injured in battle, but nobody signs up to get harrassed by the British Army. Listening to what the main perpetrator and his colleagues did to Kerry made me feel ashamed to be a man.
Had she had a few sexist comments thrown her way by the Taleban, I'd have no sympathy, but she was abused and harassed by her own colleagues to the point where it was a clear-cut case of mental torture. Senior officers had the chance to nip it in the but refused to help a fellow soldier.
Complain about this comment
I can't believe this woman, what an insult to our injured Service Men and Woman, can't believe she is now planning on writing a book about the experience - another way of making money - she should be ashamed of herself.
Complain about this comment
Kerry Fletcher was right to fight the MOD. One year ago, I would have had a less sympathetic attitude. It's hard to understand the emotional impact of discrimination and discriminatory bullying when you haven't experienced or witnessed it. It can cause people sleepless nights, and make them too stressed or fearful to go to the place where the bullying is happening.
The staff sergeant should have been fired. It is a shame people like him aren't personally held responsible for their actions. He should be prosecuted and punished for his actions.
People have criticised the amount of money Kerry Fletcher has received. The MOD is evidently not sorry for what has happened. If it was, it wouldn't be appealing. It would employ somebody to fire, and name and shame everybody in the army who has a discriminatory attitude. The MOD should have to pay Kerry Fletcher more money for failing to display genuine remorse and regret for what she went through, and it should pay her double the pention the Sergeant who discriminated against her will receive, as he shouldn't be getting anything.
Kerry Fletcher is inspirational. Her message is simple. If you're being treated differently or bullied because of factors such as sexual orientation, gender, disability or race, you should fight against it. Keep battling until you've won, even if it takes years or decades. You are in the right, and the discriminators are in the wrong. The longer and harder you have to fight, the greater your victory will be.
Complain about this comment
Kerry is entirely right.
I listened with scepticism at first, but after hearing all the story, I agree with the verdict.
Kerry is in a cleft stick regarding her compensation. The various elements of her payment seem reasonable to me.
Exactly what should the physically damaged victims of war be getting?
The tarriffs are known, the risks are known, the choice is not to join up if these are thought unacceptable.
Kerry had no choice in accepting what she was subjected to- it was not part of the deal she made when she signed on.
Staff Sgt. Brown should have been investigated much earlier, and then this tale might have had a happier outcome for the MOD.
Ultimately, this result is down to senior officers who did not take responsibility for the situation when it came to light.
Complain about this comment
As usual the right wing Daily Mail readers crawl out to give an airing to their prejudices, narrow minded views and ill informed opinions!!
The fact that Ms Fletcher has received more than soldiers wounded in battle says more about the MOD's shocking policy for compensating wounded soldiers than it does about her claim through the courts. And here's the key point - her compensation was awarded via a tribunal and not directly from the MOD who, from what I've gathered, tried trivialise Ms Fletchers claim and hope she would go away. Good for her for seeing this through!!
Complain about this comment
Many of the callers commenting are diminishing the harrassment of this woman to 'a few nasty text messages' in order to serve their arguments.
They're conveniently ignoring the regular dead-of-night abusive phone calls, prowlers at her home (where she lived alone), and damage to her house and car. Not to mention the prejudice with which she was treated by her employers during the aftermath.
A point about the money - if she gets more than people think is acceptable, their issue should be with the compensation system, not the individual. A system where the injured get so little in comparison is either flawed or under too much strain - but blaming the individual involved is misguided.
Complain about this comment
Having spent many years in the military my one concern about this case is the absence of this NCO's officers. Where was her troop commander or her battery commander in this whole episode. It could have been nipped in the bud and either she or the SNCO should have been posted away form the unit.
Complain about this comment
Do NOT assume that everyone who disagrees with the amount of compensation is a Daily Mail/Tory supporter.
Complain about this comment
Another triumph for women and feminism.
I wonder what I can sue someone for and get lots of money ?
I'm a white male.
Got no chance really have I ?
BTW I'm not a Daily Mail reader.
Complain about this comment
Leonard-Zelig-
That's just crass.
Complain about this comment
Crass ??
Nah.....
...just the truth.
Complain about this comment
Actually I would like to comment that: My daughter got her GCSE results today - excellent, and we're very proud of her; I'm not a Tory; I do not read the Daily Mail and after hearing all the interview I have not changed my view.The comments that the Judge is the fool who awarded the money, but nevertheless, this woman KNEW she was going "to fight for what I deserve".
I find that a curious description to use in a a tribunal - she wanted the money and she went for it, by her own shameful admission.
Complain about this comment
I think Kerry deserves everything she gets. This man obviously made her life hell.
If she worked in an office nobody would think she should have to put up with this type of behaviour, why should it be any different as she is in the army.
How can her manager be any sort of manager when he obviously haves no people skills! The army needs to take a look at the people it employs.
Complain about this comment
I would like to hear more of pupils doing well in exams instead of certain sections of the media running them down or giving prominence to some money grabber going to court.
If you listen to Victoria's show often enough their is nearly always some ' paranoid ' feature with an underlying ' we hate men ' agenda.It is starting to get in the way of actual news stories and decent reporting.
Complain about this comment
I agree with the caller just now; that 'it is the way it is'. That is the culture. If you can't stand the heat then get out of the kitchen.
Complain about this comment
I think to generalise and label a variety of features on Victoria's show as "paranoid", or "we hate men" is rather sweeping. I have listened to many of the issues she addresses and rather than having a sexist element, I feel she gives a legitimate opportunity for listeners to contribute their many and varied opinions.
Complain about this comment
I listened to some of this on the way to a meeting. Firstly the compensation given to injured soldiers is not good enough, but has nothing to do with this case. Second I'm disappointed that the line manager was not disciplined/dealt with.Third it takes alot of guts to takeon an institution - so fair play to her. Fourth the level of award is nothing to do with the soldier it's the board that make the payment.lastly this reflects on the quality of personnel in the army who feelthis is acceptable. One caller said it's part of life getting bullied, well I've got news for you - it's not part of my life or my friends & I don't live in Islington.
Complain about this comment
Complain about this comment
I wonder how many of the children here have actually had any kind of higher learning.
Complain about this comment
I listened to this on the car radio this morning and was appalled by it. As an old soldier of 20+ years service during the 60s to 80s I might be considered as old fashioned. Far from it, I think Kerry was very brave to come on the Radio and recount her experience. The compensation she has received is absolutely justified. The Army in my experience has always been sexist and discriminatory and in part reflects what many soldiers stand for. I do not believe it has changed that much since my time. I was fortunate to spend some of my service with the Brigade of Gurkhas. Returning to work alongside UK squaddies starkly demonstrated the difference in ethics between Gurkhas and Brits. In saying this I am not maligning all Brits, no way - The Army has produced some exceptional Brits and will always do so. However there always has been in my view a minority where bullying beyond reasonableness is endemic. I say this because some 'bullying' is necessary as a means of hardening soldiers to the rigours they are likely to face in the future. But too many step well beyond the mark and Kerry's experience is one such extreme example. Units need to stop trying to cover up such instances and tackle complaints quickly, fairly and in a professional manner.
What is outrageous is the way our injured servicemen and their families as well as the families of servicemen killed on operations are treated in terms of compensation. To compare Kerry's compensation with what the MOD currently pays out for injuries is totally wrong. Her compensation is fine. The level of compensation (and treatment) of our injured servicemen is what is out of order.
The two comparisons are rightly being commented on but in many cases for the wrong reasons. The Government needs to intervene and provide fair compensation to these soldiers, several of whom will never be able to work properly again and in the case of many, eg those with significant psychological problems, never get the level of treatment they should.
Remember also, as has been said several times by Kerry and others, she did not join the Army to be bullied and sexually harassed. Soldiers do join, particularly today, knowing full well they will almost certainly be required to serve in a dangerous war environment and accept what comes to them. What the government must do in return is respect the value of those lives lost and damaged and provide adequate compensation.
Complain about this comment
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
err Department_S in case you had not noticed, we've been living in a labour Britian for last 12 years... The monet grabbing, everyone owes me something attitude, It all some-elses fault mindset, these are New Labour ideals.
Complain about this comment
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
Victoria:
What do you think of her payout? Of her treatment?
1) It is not enough per year, spread out for 10 years; that means she, has to continued working to make ends meet....
2) The TX is not that acceptable....
=Dennis Junior=
Complain about this comment
I would like to add I do sympathise with the lady in question no one deserves to go through any sort of bullying, harrassment but as I commented earlier about my daughter who was treated dreadfully both in & out of school, her only crime is a disability.We all suffer but very few of us are compensated.
Complain about this comment
Oh dear bit touchy are we ?
It appears that 5liveaddict has a problem with someone having a different point of view.
I find your accusations extremely offensive.
I have been married for 33 years and do not have a problem with women or am I small minded but thanks all the same for your ' constructive ' criticism.
Complain about this comment
Why doesn't she donate the money to BLESMA or help the heroes? If every soldier cried over being shouted at where would we be? I have more respect for the Taliban, as she said on the radio that she had balls, that's why she never deployed and faced a true enemy at war. I am utterly disgusted at the money grabbing nature and saddened for my comrades that have lost their lives and limbs, and children have lost thier fathers, wives thier husbands and get a fraction of the compensation for someone having thier feelings hurt!! See how much it hurts when an IED detonates......hope she can sleep knowing this
Complain about this comment
This woman has also persued another compensation claim against a colonel for 'victimisation' according to an article in the Daily Telegraph.
Complain about this comment
Sounds as though claiming compensation is her full time job.
Complain about this comment
Btw the anychance of having my inoffensive comments ( post 34 ) that didn't break any house rules except that someone complained because they disagreed with them, being reinstated please ?
Complain about this comment
I find most of the comments in this thread risible.
Compensation for injury on active service given by the MOD and by extension the Government are ludicrously low but in no way bear any sort of relationship to the payout to Ms Fletcher and anyone who has mentioned same or Afghanistan or Taliban in their outraged state shows their complete ignorance.
This was a case of severe bullying by a Superior against someone who he had power over, he goes on to get his 22 in and a full pension she loses her career and future pension and IMO the payout is extremely low considering that she had 10 years to her 22 year service left. I believe that currently her pay scale would be close to 30k per annum so in pay alone she potentially lost £300k and that without taking her full pension into account.
Anyone who has a problem with the stupidly low rates of compensation for injured soldiers should direct their ire at the proper target not at Ms Fletcher.
Complain about this comment
Comment 7
Ye rite Beachball64 its much more interesting listening to a litany of "My little Jonny/Jessica is brilliant and got 27 A grades " than to hear about a disgusting case of Harrassment by the Forces who are supposed to protect our freedoms.
Not all listeners have kids or are interested in other peoples kids the local rag is the correct place for any exam results, personally im sick to death of hearing about them on National Radio and we still have the yearly "lets help the little darlings who didn't get their University place" discussion to come yet.
Complain about this comment
I take it you are not a parent then ?
Complain about this comment
This is a dreadful story.
She should never have been bullied, but if she was the punishment should be on those that did it not the taxpayer like me who has to cough up yet is personally not guilty. If there was a vote I would vote no.
Compared with our wounded traumatised soldiers what has happened to her is minor and I hope she recovers quickly if she hasn't already.
Wellcome to Britain in 2009 lose your legs and get severely traumatised you get less than a sexual harassment claim.Shameful
Complain about this comment
At the time of hearing the interview, I could not really credit all the fuss being made about the payout. I am wearied by the number of times that I hear defendants or plaintiffs coming from a court of law complaining that they did not receive justice. Law is not about justice, it is based upon precedent and defence of property, and the settlement reflects that. I believe that soldiers should get greater sums for compensation in an ideal world, but this is not an ideal world - check out the skewed rates of compensation to which one is entitled in the event of injury or death through the Criminal Compensation Board for evidence of this. At one level in an 'unfair' world it is a fact that soldiers take the Queen's shilling and in return accept that they may take a bullet in her service without complaint or demur. Wounding and death are surely classed as occupational hazards in a military career.
In short, good luck to the woman in question, and get off her back!
Complain about this comment
What in heaven's name is the matter with the editorial staff on this show? Why on earth have you seen fit to give the oxygen of publicity to yet another self-serving publicity seeker? Please tell me the BBC didn't pay her for this charade?
Complain about this comment
have to say interesting how the victim of bullying was roundly being victimised by vicky ie you got this payout whilst those soldiers only got a tiny amount.
and yet it took one caller to set the record straight, that is the process are different and that the fact that the pay out for injured soldiers was the responsibility of the MoD not of this victim of bullying.
correctly the caller pointed out that it was really the job of vicky to point out this fact of government failure rather than reiterating the tabloid hysteria against this woman.
curious stance to have been taken by vicky until that call.
Complain about this comment
Well let me ask Louisa directly, Louisa, did she get paid by the BBC for this interview?
Complain about this comment
Hello?
Complain about this comment
It's a complex issue. In a nutshell, MoD fighting to lower already inadequate payments to crippled front line personnel is bad, awarding a massive payout in excess of what most of the injured get before the MoD try to reduce it to someone who openly admits she's in it for the cash is bad. Whilst she shouldn't have to endure such harassment she was in the military, an institution that looks for toughness, stamina and aggression. Maybe she should have fronted up and stood up for herself? Maybe she was seen as a whinger and was expected to learn and stand up for herself? Who knows? Maybe her antagonist shouldn't be such a knuckle-headed dionsaur but, then, they tend to be the best at charging unflinchingly into hell and getting the job done (i.e. they save lives. on our side, at least).
Anyway, since when was a Staff Sergeant a "senior officer" or an officer at all, for that matter...? Tabloids, eh...? Tsk!
Complain about this comment
View these comments in RSS