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A senior naval officer was given a gong in the King's Honors List while under investigation in the sex pest scandal that has engulfed the submarine service, the Mail can reveal.
Embarrassingly for the Royal Navy, it is understood the man was nominated by a superior for the prestigious award – and the most senior officer serving, Sir Ben Key, 'hit the roof' when he found out.
Last week, Sir Ben, the First Sea Lord, apologized to women following an internal inquiry which confirmed that sexual assault, misogyny and bullying – as exposed by a Daily Mail investigation – had become “normalised ”.
He admitted that sailors suffered “intolerable” harassment and abuse while serving in Britain’s nuclear deterrent. A total of 21 men have already been fired, and others have been demoted or given lesser reprimands.
Last week, Sir Ben Key, the First Sea Lord, pictured, apologized to women after an internal inquiry confirmed sexual assault, misogyny and bullying
Behind the scenes, Sir Ben, right, was furious when he discovered that while the sex pest investigation was ongoing, one of the accused men had received a gong on the King's Honors List.
Now the Mail can reveal that behind the scenes Sir Ben was furious when he discovered that while the sex pest investigation was ongoing, one of the accused men had been given a gong in the King's Honors List.
It is understood the service is now desperately trying to get him back, asking the Honors Committee to terminate him.
At the time, the officer was being investigated over allegations made by wartime officer Sophie Brook that he inserted his penis in her pocket, blew on her neck and licked her ear during a mission on a Royal Navy submarine.
Military chiefs launched their investigation after Ms Brook's story was revealed in the Daily Mail. The inquiry dragged on for two years, during which Ms Brook and other courageous complainants were forced to endure the uncertainty of the process, not knowing what its conclusion would be.
At the time, the officer was being investigated over allegations made by wartime officer Sophie Brook that he inserted his penis in her pocket, blew on her neck and licked her ear during a mission on a Royal Navy submarine. HMS Vengeance, the Royal Navy's fourth and final Vanguard-class submarine.
However, during this period, the agent against whom she had made serious accusations was enjoying the trappings of life in the so-called “senior service”.
The man attended official Navy dinners and was celebrated by his colleagues. He was even 'promoted' in the rankings.
And he was nominated for one of the highest honors the nation can bestow. It was announced that he was among those to receive “state honours” with a gong in one of the King’s Honors Lists, which are designed to “mark the extraordinary contributions and services of people across the United Kingdom”.
The report concluded that some of the allegations against the man were true, including licking Miss Brook's ear and blowing on her neck, apparently in a prank to distract her while she used the submarine's periscope. However, it is believed that the allegation that he inserted his penis in her pocket has not been confirmed.
Sophie Brook (pictured) was put on a vile 'rape list' drawn up by sick male colleagues in the Navy
Sophie Brook pictured in Royal Navy regalia during her career. Ms. Brook's courageous decision to go public in October 2022 has sparked a torrent of demands
It is understood that the officer was not fired and although “actions” were taken to punish him for his role, he remains on duty.
Meanwhile, a so-called 'confiscation committee' was set up by high-ups to recommend the removal of his honor on the grounds that it would bring the service into disrepute, and recently made this recommendation to the Honors Committee, which is part of the Cabinet Office, the consider.
A Navy source said: “It’s not like the First Sea Lord is afraid to fire anyone. He did. But the actions taken depended on the findings of the inquiry.'
Announcing the findings of his damning inquiry last Friday, Sir Ben Key issued an unreserved apology to the Mail's courageous whistleblower. Brook, 32, was the first female wartime officer and revealed the horrific reality of sexual harassment beneath the waves since the ban on women serving on submarines was lifted in 2011. She was placed on a vile “rape list”. prepared by sick male colleagues and subject to obscene and humiliating behavior.
