Warrant officer loses sex case

Warrant officer Angela McConnell has resigned from the Army

A warrant officer has lost her claim for sexual discrimination against the Ministry of Defence.

Angela McConnell had claimed the army discriminated against her by treating her more harshly than a major she had an affair with.

Mrs McConnell said she was recommended for demotion or dismissal while the major was allowed to retire.

But on Wednesday an employment tribunal panel in Southampton ruled against her claim.

Right to appeal

Mrs McConnell, 41, of Main Road, West Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset, was also unsuccessful in her claim that she had been harassed into having an affair with Major Alastair Ross.

A further claim that she had been threatened in a letter by the major was unsuccessful.

A tribunal spokeswoman said Mrs McConnell had a right to appeal.

In the tribunal panel's summary of its decision, the chairman Michael Kolanko said that Mrs McConnell was a confident and experienced member of the King's Royal Hussars (KRH) who was capable of refusing Major Ross's advances had she wished.

The summary stated that there was no evidence that Mrs McConnell had been coerced into having an affair with him.

'Overtures reciprocated'

Mr Kolanko stated: "We have concluded that the applicant is a responsible woman, who was plainly aware of her rights and the recourse she could take if she was a victim of sexual harassment.

"It may well be that Major Ross made the initial tentative flirtations with the applicant, however we are satisfied that the applicant would have recognised the signals and would have had an ability to make it clear if she had found Major Ross's conduct offensive.

"We have no doubt in our minds that whatever overtures were made by Major Ross to the applicant, they were, in turn, fully reciprocated by the applicant."

However, Mr Kolanko also criticised Major Ross, describing both him and Mrs McConnell as "accomplished at deceiving and lying".

Allegations against the Ministry of Defence that it did not treat both genders equally when dealing with matters of sexual harassment or discrimination were dismissed.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "We are awaiting formal confirmation of the decision.

"We will then consider it and respond in due course."