LESBIAN SOLDIER WINS PAYOUT

Lance Bombardier Kerry Fletcher, 32, will receive a total of £186,895.52 after she won her claims against the MoD for sex discrimination, victimisation and sexual harassment at an employment tribunal in Leeds.

Miss Fletcher's career collapsed as a result of the unnamed sergeant's actions while she worked at an Army stables in North Yorkshire.

The tribunal, in November last year, heard how the sergeant pestered openly gay Miss Fletcher for sex and sent her explicit text messages.

The soldier, who lives in Birmingham but is originally from Sheffield, said the sergeant and other male colleagues tried to destroy her career because she spurned his advances.

Miss Fletcher handed in her notice in February this year after serving in the Army for 10 years.

Her solicitor, John Mackenzie, told a remedy hearing, which was held in Leeds in September, that his client's position within the Royal Artillery became "untenable" after she won her case against the MoD.

He said: "The claimant felt unable to continue to serve within the Royal Artillery because she felt she would continue to be victimised and discriminated against."

Mr Mackenzie continued: "The immediate consequence of the act of discrimination is that the claimant's career in the Royal Artillery has collapsed and it's the respondent's conduct that has caused this collapse."

Earlier this year, the MoD offered Miss Fletcher an apology for the conduct of the male sergeant.