Female soldier says she was shunned

The Army says it is against all forms of discrimination

An industrial tribunal has heard from a Northumberland-based soldier who claimed she suffered sex discrimination after complaining about an Army superior.

Lance Corporal Lindsay Blair, 27, claimed she was driven out of the Army after a sex assault resulted in a court martial.

She told the tribunal on Wednesday she was the subject of an assault by her regimental sergeant major, while serving as a clerk with the Royal Dragoon Guards in Wiltshire in 1996.

He was later court martialled and imprisoned before being thrown out of the Army.

L/Cpl Blair, from Ellington, Northumberland, later moved to Albemarle barracks in the county. She has now waived her right to anonymity.

No counselling

She claims that, while she was welcomed there at first, some soldiers turned against her when they learned she had made a complaint against a superior.

She also complained about the lack of support or counselling following the attack.

The tribunal has reserved its judgment in the case until a later date.

An Army spokeswoman said today: "The Army is committed through the general staff equal opportunities directive to eradicating all forms of discrimination.

"It would be inappropriate to comment further on the case until the employment tribunal proceedings are completed.

"Appropriate action is always taken against any individual found guilty of any discriminatory behaviour."