RAF sparks fury after labelling allegations made by a whistle-blower in the Red Arrows sex abuse scandal as ‘unfounded, false and defamatory’ – before suggesting her past relationship with a service person was ‘the source of her angst’

• The RAF’s handling of a sex abuse case has been labelled ‘extremely disturbing’
• The service attacked the woman’s credibility calling her account ‘defamatory’
• It was suggested her claims were sparked by her previous relationship ‘angst’ 

The RAF sparked fury yesterday after smearing a victim of the Red Arrows sex abuse scandal.

The service attacked the woman’s credibility with a personal slur as well as branding her account ‘false and defamatory’, despite the findings of a formal inquiry which accepted her horrific experiences.

In an astonishing attack on the woman’s character, a senior RAF officer – speaking in an official capacity – suggested her claims could have been caused by ‘angst’ following a relationship with another serving officer.

The officer also insisted she had never complained about misconduct to her superiors, despite compelling evidence obtained by the Daily Mail indicating that she did.

The extraordinary remarks angered critics, who branded the RAF’s handling of the scandal ‘deeply disturbing’.

Flight Lieutenant Will Cambridge (pictured) has been sacked for severe misconduct after a sex abuse victim spoke out

Emma Norton, director of the Centre for Military Justice, said: ‘It is time for the RAF to decide whether it stands by its official position of zero tolerance for sexual harassment, or worse, in the workplace – or whether it is going to continue to undermine and denigrate the brave women and men who try to report and address these behaviours. It cannot do both.’

The shocking attack on the sex abuse victim came after the Red Arrows, based at RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire, have been hit by the biggest scandal in their 58-year history.

Two pilots, Flight Lieutenants Damon Green and Will Cambridge, have been sacked for severe misconduct and four others disciplined internally.

The action was taken after more than 40 personnel came forward with allegations of sexual assault, sexual harassment, physical assaults and bullying.

Separately, the Red Arrows’ commanding officer David Montenegro was removed from his post this week pending an investigation into claims he got a corporal pregnant.

Amid calls from victims for the aerobatics team to be disbanded, the RAF attacked the female whistle-blower.

Flight Lieutenant Damon Green (pictured) was also sacked for severe misconduct

A senior official said: ‘At no time did she make a complaint about RAFAT [Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team] personnel or give any details about what her issue at RAFAT was. Thus, any allegations of sexual assault/harassment are completely unfounded and her allegations are being viewed as false and defamatory.’

He added the woman had a relationship ‘with another service person while at RAFAT which may be the basis of her angst’.

Philip Ingram, a former intelligence officer who set up the Independent Defence Authority, said: ‘The official’s remarks about the account of this woman and her private life represent a pathetic attempt to denigrate her.

‘The “shoot the messenger” approach… can only mean they are still trying to cover up inappropriate behaviours.

‘Privately, senior officers have thanked her for exposing wrongdoing, but publicly they want to throw her under the nearest bus.

Separately, the Red Arrows’ commanding officer David Montenegro (pictured) was removed from his post this week pending an investigation into claims he got a corporal pregnant

‘It is deeply disturbing the Ministry of Defence has resorted to such tactics to preserve the reputation of the Red Arrows. As a victim of abuse who dared to speak out, she deserves much better.’

WhatsApp messages and emails seen by the Mail indicate that, contrary to the official’s insistence, the woman did report concerns to senior officers.

A message she received from a commander suggested he had discussed her claims at a high level and a strategy was being devised.

The commander told her: ‘If you are content, they [RAF hierarchy] will not take the matter further formally. [An officer] will chat to you tomorrow about our plan moving forward and [another officer] will do the same on his side. I’ll discuss the wider implications with heads of departments separately. Hopefully, if a civil environment can be achieved, we should be able to move forward.’

But the woman responded: ‘Hi Sir, thank you for letting me know. I would like to speak with you again as I have some major concerns. I think there is quite a lot wrong with the situation. I feel very strongly about some of the concerns I raised with you. I cannot say I am content until I know what the course of action is.’

In an astonishing attack on the woman’s character, a senior RAF officer – speaking in an official capacity – suggested her claims could have been caused by ‘angst’ following a relationship with another serving officer

The RAF official also denied the woman raised the matter with one of the force’s most senior officers, Air Vice-Marshal Suraya Marshall, who is tipped to become the first female Chief of the Air Staff.

AVM Marshall and the female officer shared a Skype call, mainly to discuss her request for compassionate discharge, which was granted, due to her horrific experiences. The official insisted ‘no allegations were raised’ about misconduct in this call.

But the woman had invited another RAF officer to sit in on the call. This officer provided a signed witness statement, describing how the woman told AVM Marshall about ‘a toxic pocket of inappropriate behaviours including sexual harassment at RAFAT’.

It remains unclear what action, if any, AVM Marshall took.

Defence committee chairman Tobias Ellwood last night joined the calls for the Red Arrows to be grounded while the toxic issues were sorted out.

He said: ‘Its pilots and personnel are supposed to be the exemplars, ambassadors for this country around the world. You cannot have people looking up into the skies and thinking “what next” with regard to their conduct.’

Last night, an RAF spokesman said: ‘All of the allegations referenced were thoroughly investigated… and action taken, up to and including dismissal from the RAF.’

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