Victory for major in sex case

An army warrant officer who claimed she was "pestered" into having an affair with a cavalry major today lost her case of sex discrimination against the Ministry of Defence.

Mother- of- two Angela McConnell, who admitted to a tribunal she had liaisons with three other officers, including a lesbian affair, said her reputation had been ruined and the verdict had shattered her faith in British justice.

She had accused the Army of treating her differently from the major once their affair - banned under strict rules - was exposed.

The warrant officer claimed she was recommended for demotion to corporal or dismissal while Major Alastair Ross was allowed to retire on a full pension.

She also told the 17-day employment tribunal in Southampton she believed her career in the King's Royal Hussars would be jeopardised if she rejected the advances of the major, who had been granted anonymity.

Her third claim was that she believed a letter from Major Ross's solicitor was a bid to blackmail her into dropping the sexual discrimination case by threatening to expose one of her other affairs.

Today, as the tribunal threw out all three claims, she said: "I'm bitterly disappointed. The way the Army was allowed to rake up my past was disgusting. It destroyed my faith in British justice."

She added: "The hearing was the most depressing episode in my life, yet I've come out stronger. My marriage is over but I have a new job, a new home and a new life.

"Within the first week of the hearing I knew we were going to lose. Everything was stacked against me. The court allowed the MoD to expose my sex life but refused to let Ross be questioned about his string of affairs."

Mrs McConnell, 41, from West Lulworth, said she had tried to kill herself when her husband George discovered her relationship. Only the thought of her two children stopped her. Major Ross, who lives in Kennington, had strongly denied Mrs McConnell's accusations. He told the tribunal: "I am certainly not a sexual predator. I think womaniser is the expression."

Mrs McConnell repeatedly denied claims by Wendy Outhwaite, counsel for the MoD, that she was " flirtatious and promiscuous".

John Mackenzie, representing Mrs McConnell, said today: "The message that comes out loud and clear from this tribunal is that any woman in the Army who institutes proceedings under the Sex Discrimination Act risks having their sexual reputation comprehensively trashed."

The Army strictly forbids sexual relationships between commissioned officers, such as the major, and other ranks, ranging from private to warrant officer.

The MoD today said: "We've received formal confirmation of the decision and we are considering it and respond in due course."

Mrs McConnell's estranged husband criticised the verdict. The 43-year-old fireman said: "It's a travesty. The Army set out to portray her as some sort of slapper and protected Major Ross.

"They went to incredible lengths to dredge up incidents from her past. She has been treated most unfairly."