‘Britain’s defence is more important than your sex drive’: Retired Admiral leads backlash against Royal Navy ‘sex pests’ after Mail expose saw whistleblowers warn of bullying, misogyny and a ‘crush depth rape list’ aboard UK’s submarines

• Navy chiefs must crack down on sex pests in the service a retired admiral said
• Former Rear Admiral Chris Parry called for ‘zero tolerance’ of sexual harassment
• It comes as whistleblower Sophie Brook, 30, spoke out on her experience 
• She claimed submariners had compiled a ‘crush depth rape list’ of female crew 

Navy chiefs must crack down on sex pests in the service by reminding the ranks that ‘the defence of this country is more important than your sex drive’, a retired admiral said yesterday.

Former Rear Admiral Chris Parry called for ‘zero tolerance’ after claims of bullying and sexual harassment of women in the Submarine Service triggered an urgent Navy inquiry.

‘It needs to be zero tolerance, from the top down and the bottom up,’ he told Radio 4’s Today programme. ‘If you are subjected to sexual harassment then you’ve got to say it is. It takes moral courage in a hierarchy . . .

Whistleblower Sophie Brook, 30, (pictured during her Navy career) spoke to the Daily Mail exclusively about the sexual harassment she experienced after becoming one of the first women to join the service

Former Rear Admiral Chris Parry (pictured) called for ‘zero tolerance’ after claims of bullying and sexual harassment of women in the Submarine Service triggered an urgent Navy inquiry.

‘The top leadership has got to say, and the Navy’s better at this, I have to say, than the Army and the Air Force, “It is zero tolerance, we won’t put up with it.”

‘When I was commanding a mixed ship I used to say to people, “The defence of this country is actually more important that your sex drive” and I will take very seriously any attempt by anybody to impose their, if you like, assault or, indeed, their banter, as they called it, on anybody else.’ 

He added that the problem of sexual harassment was also a societal one. His comments came after the Daily Mail exclusively revealed how trailblazing lieutenant Sophie Brook, 30, had experienced sexual harassment after becoming one of the first women to join the service. 

Sophie Brook, 30, pictured with her dog Ailsa, made history as the first female warfare officer and was on course to become the first female captain of a submarine, but says the service is ‘no place for women’

The whistleblower claimed submariners compiled a ‘crush depth rape list’ of female crew they would sexually assault if there was a catastrophe onboard. She also said a senior officer groped her and put part of his anatomy in her pocket.

She claimed she was assaulted as she slept in her bed by a man of higher rank, had her bras stolen from the laundry and engineers sniffed women’s washing. 

She said: ‘It wasn’t just me, all of the women – and I mean all of them – had incidents they had to endure. The best thing I ever did was leave the Navy but I worry about the women I left behind. It was just a constant campaign of sexual bullying.’

Ms Brook alleges she was assaulted by a senior male colleague while she slept, as well as being sexually assaulted on multiple occasions

She added: ‘I loved the job, doing the maths, driving a submarine, it was amazing. It’s just unfortunate the ‘old boys’ club’ makes it such a hostile and misogynistic place. It is no place for women.’

Ms Brook, who resigned from the Navy in January after she was investigated and court martialled for sharing sensitive information about her submarine’s movement in an email to her married lover. 

She was formally dismissed in June after being given a five-month suspended sentence.

The former lieutenant had previously aspired to climb the ranks but said her experience in the fleet destroyed her mental health ultimately resulting in mistakes that eventually ended her career

She added: ‘I spent a decade trying to fight the injustice women face within the Submarine Service, playing by their rules, but I was unable to change things . . . most serving officers are brave, professional and make huge personal sacrifices. My issue is only with the few rotten apples.’

Admiral Sir Ben Kay, First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff, said: ‘These allegations are abhorrent. 

‘Sexual assault and harassment has no place in the Royal Navy and will not be tolerated. 

‘I have directed my senior team to investigate these allegations thoroughly. Anyone who is found culpable will be held accountable for their actions.’

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