Settlement Reduced for Lesbian Soldier

A lesbian British soldier who sued the Army for sexual harassment has seen her court settlement cut by a third.

According to the BBC, Lance Bombardier Kerry Fletcher was originally awarded PS186,895.52 (approximately $300,000 U.S.) after filing an employment complaint with a tribunal charging sexual discrimination and harassment.

However, the Employment Appeal Tribunal cut her settlement by PS62,000 ($100,000 U.S.) after the Ministry of Defense launched an appeal. Critics said her award came under fire by those who thought it was too much compared to the compensation of soldiers injured in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The judge also reduced aggravated damages awarded to Fletcher from PS20,000 ($32,000 U.S.) to PS8,000 ($13,000 U.S.).

"The Army's conduct, deplorable though it was found to be, did not cross the high threshold warranting an award of exemplary damages," Judge Slade said.

Fletcher, who is openly gay, deflected persistent sexual advances from a male sergeant who sent her explicit text messages. She said in the first tribunal in November 2007 that the sergeant and other male colleagues were trying to destroy her career because she turned down his advances.