Tears of whistleblower who faced abuse from officers on nuclear sub

The head of the Royal Navy offered a grovelling apology yesterday for sexual attacks, misogyny and the bullying of women on submarines – as exposed by the Daily Mail.

He admitted crew members had suffered 'intolerable' harassment and abuse while serving on Britain's nuclear deterrent, and revealed that 18 men had now been sacked.

Announcing the findings of a damning inquiry, Sir Ben Key, the First Sea Lord, told a news conference: 'I am truly sorry.'

He gave an unreserved apology to the Mail's brave whistleblower, Sophie Brook, the first female warfare officer, who lifted the lid on the horrifying reality of sexual harassment beneath the waves since the ban on women serving on submarines was lifted in 2011.

Ms Brook, 32, was put on a vile 'rape list' drawn up by sick male colleagues and subjected to lewd and humiliating behaviour.

Ms Brook, a former lieutenant, said she had spent her 'entire career terrified of the Press, but as it turns out, they were the only people who heard what I had to say'.

She praised the Mail for uncovering the truth of her shocking story, which had fallen on deaf ears at Navy HQ. Yesterday Ms Brook was invited to the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall for an unprecedented personal apology. The First Sea Lord said: 'I apologised to her personally and unreservedly, praising her courage in coming forward.'

Last night a source close to Sir Ben said: 'He has praised the bravery and courage it took for Ms Brook to come forward and he recognises the role played by the Daily Mail.'

Our exclusive investigation – and Ms Brook's brave decision to go public – in October 2022 prompted a torrent of claims.

A string of other whistleblowers came forward to describe a horrendous culture of sexual abuse and harassment in the service, into which the Navy launched an immediate inquiry.

It concluded yesterday and revealed it had carried out 28 investigations into 'unacceptable sexual behaviour' resulting in 18 personnel being sacked, four demoted and six given reprimands.

The Navy published a 140-page report into its findings, about two-thirds of which is completely obscured by a security censor's black ink, covering up shocking details of the abuses.

But Sir Ben, right, said he had accepted its recommendations in full.

They include a 'zero tolerance' approach to abuse, with commanders drilled in 'values' towards women and submarine crews being interviewed before and after each deployment to check for 'healthy working cultures'.

Sir Ben added: 'The investigation has confirmed misogyny, bullying and other unacceptable behaviours – and this is intolerable.'

Read More

The Royal Navy's submarine service has still not fixed its sex abuse issues, whistleblower claims

He declared that 'behaviours in the past that may have been normalised' have 'no place today', and added: 'Our people must be able to perform their duties with dignity, pride and respect.'

Trailblazer Ms Brook, one of the first women to join the submarine service, told how women were frequently screamed at, called c***s, and hit with clipboards and pens.

She said she was assaulted as she slept in her bed by a man of a higher rank, had her bras stolen from the laundry and caught engineers sniffing women's underwear. When she once asked to be excused for a medical appointment in front of a group of men, an officer told her she could have the procedure in front of them if it was a 'cervical examination'.

Sir Ben also offered a public apology to 'any personnel, past or present, that have been subject to any form of unacceptable behaviour during their time in service'.

He said: 'I am truly sorry. While much has been done to improve the experiences of personnel in the Royal Navy in recent years, such as establishing zero tolerance for unacceptable behaviours and improving avenues to raise concerns, there is more to be done.'

Ms Brook compelled the Navy to take 'immediate action' to ensure that 'no one else is subjected to the systemic misogyny and discrimination that has long plagued the Submarine Service'.

She added: 'No one should have to endure the harassment, abuse and mental toll that I and countless others have faced.'

Whistleblower broke down in tears after receiving apology

The whistleblower who exposed the Submarine Service's sex abuse scandal broke down in tears after receiving an unprecedented apology from the head of the Royal Navy yesterday.

Sophie Brook worked with the Mail to raise the alarm over allegations of misogyny, sexual abuse and harassment aboard the country's nuclear submarines.

The courageous 32-year-old revealed in this newspaper in October 2022 how she had been driven to self-harm after being assaulted, harassed and abused by senior officers.

Read More

Sunk! Two Royal Navy officers who had affair on nuclear submarines are sacked for putting British fleet at risk with emails sent during 'clandestine sexual relationship' 

After a two-year long review of the claims, she described the moment she finally received an unreserved and personal apology from First Sea Lord Sir Ben Key.

'When he offered me the full apology I just burst into tears. It does feel like vindication, it's a relief... I finally feel heard,' Ms Brook said last night. However, she added: 'Even though it has come to an end on paper, it (the abuse she suffered) is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life.'

The mother-to-be was given a briefing by the Navy chief on the new report, which confirms that 'intolerable' misogyny, bullying and other unacceptable behaviours occurred within the Submarine Service. Ms Brook, who became the UK's first female warfare officer after joining the service in 2014 and was on course to become the first female captain of a submarine, had tried in vain to report the allegations before eventually turning to the Mail after leaving the service.

Her courage compelled more victims to come forward anonymously to tell their stories of abuse, including rape and bullying.

Ms Brook described the publication of the report as a 'critical moment', but said she hopes the words 'are backed up by actions', adding: 'The report highlights the systemic failures I, and many others, experienced firsthand... It is my hope that this report is not just a token gesture, but a starting point for real, substantive change.'