Sex abuse of female soldiers: Claims by 240 probed

Separate MoD figures show that 24 servicemen, including officers, were convicted of sex offences at courts martial in the last year.

Many of those sentenced were found guilty of multiple crimes and most were placed on the sex offenders’ register.

In one case a soldier was jailed for ten years after being found guilty of attempted rape and grievous bodily harm.

He was placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

The MoD was strongly criticised last year over the death of Cpl Anne-Marie Ellement who committed suicide after her claims she had been raped by two colleagues were ignored.

Cpl Ellement’s mother, Alexandra Barritt, said her daughter had been "bullied, belittled and overworked and driven to the depths of despair” after the rape allegation.

Ms Barritt said: "She lost her spirit and she was broken. She felt completely let down.”

Sex crimes within the armed forces are now regarded as a major problem and talks on how to tackle the issue have been held at the most senior levels within the Ministry of Defence.

Confidential surveys in the Army have also shown that almost every serving female soldier questioned had experienced some form of sex harassment by male colleagues.

Meanwhile, 470 claims of bullying and harassment of female soldiers have been probed in the last five years – and the totals are rising.

Military police carried out 30 inquiries in the first five months of this year.

The figures, obtained from a Freedom of Information request, also show allegations of bullying and harassment are far higher in the Army than the Royal Navy and RAF.

An Army spokesman said last night: "We take any allegation of abuse extremely seriously. Any suspicion of bullying or harassment or abuse will be dealt with immediately and any allegation of a criminal nature is handed to the police.”

(dailystar.co.uk)