London: A former UK defence minister has admitted to serious failures in handling sexual abuse cases within the British Army, as female veterans share harrowing accounts of assault and harassment during their service.
Johnny Mercer, who previously opposed transferring rape investigations from military to civilian courts, now acknowledges he was wrong and is urging the government to take immediate action. His change of stance comes after damning testimonies from servicewomen who describe a toxic culture where sexual misconduct is tolerated and complaints are often dismissed.
Several women have come forward to detail their experiences of assault, intimidation, and institutional failure.
Jane*, a veteran of nearly two decades, was forced to leave a career she loved after being raped by a colleague. When she reported the attack to the Royal Military Police, she was accused of drinking too much and flirting. Later, she discovered messages between officers referring to her in derogatory terms. Although an investigation was launched, her case never reached a court martial due to what she was told was a low likelihood of conviction.
Hayley*, a former recruit, was threatened by a senior officer after witnessing the sexual assault of a fellow soldier. Later, a male colleague climbed into her bed and attempted to assault her. When she reported the incident, she was questioned about whether she had been drinking or had encouraged him. The case was eventually dropped due to lack of evidence.
Michelle, another veteran, described widespread sexual harassment throughout her service, including inappropriate touching and degrading behaviour by male colleagues.
Their accounts echo the tragic case of 19-year-old soldier Jaysley Beck, who took her own life in 2021 after experiencing sexual assault. A recent inquest found that the army failed to support her after she reported her abuse, further highlighting systemic issues within the military.
Campaigners have long argued that sexual offence cases should be handled outside the military justice system, pointing to significantly lower conviction rates in court martial trials compared to civilian courts. Lawyer Emma Norton, who founded the Centre for Military Justice, called the disparity "completely unjustifiable."
While the Labour Party has pledged to move such cases into civilian courts, the Ministry of Defence has yet to confirm whether it will implement this change. A spokesperson for the MoD reiterated that the government is committed to reform and holding offenders accountable.
For many women, these experiences have left a complicated legacy.
"I had some of the best and worst times of my life," said Hayley. "I don’t want to feel sorry for myself, but I know I was severely let down by those in charge. This cannot be allowed to continue."
[Reference Credit Sky News]
