Navy officer accused of raping a colleague remained in his job

A ROYAL Navy officer responsible for discipline remained in post despite allegedly raping a female colleague, it was reported yesterday.

The senior commander has stayed in service since the collapse of the case against him.

A junior female officer told Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour she will ‘never be the same person again’ after claiming he raped her twice and sexually assaulted her after a party.

She had been drinking heavily but apparently woke in his room to see him on top of her committing a sexual act.

She told Woman’s Hour: ‘I was going in and out of consciousness. I was not able to consent, and I did not consent – and that is rape.’

Military police investigated the claim and a file was sent to the Service Prosecution Authority – the military’s version of the CPS. But the SPA dropped the case due to insufficient evidence and an absence of witnesses. When interviewed, the senior officer apparently admitted intercourse took place but claimed the woman had consented.

The junior officer said the officer remains in a position of authority in the Royal Navy.

Last night, the force said it had since made changes including ‘providing specialist help to victims and witnesses of serious crime, independent of the military chain of command’.