The Army’s poster girl for diversity is suing defence chiefs after allegedly suffering a catalogue of racist abuse.
Corporal Kerry-Ann Knight, who has fronted Army equality and diversity campaigns, has taken her case to an industrial tribunal.
In court documents she accuses senior officers of presiding over an ‘obvious culture of bullying, discrimination, racism and sexism’. Her claims are understood to be based on her service at the Army Foundation College, where she is an instructor.
Married Cpl Knight says she felt ‘victimised and isolated’ as bosses allegedly participated in her bullying and encouraged it.
The Ministry of Defence is contesting the case at Leeds Employment Tribunal.
Corporal Kerry-Ann Knight (pictured), who has fronted Army equality and diversity campaigns, has taken her case to an industrial tribunal
In 2019, Cpl Knight fronted the £1.5 million ‘Your Army Needs You’ recruitment campaign and featured prominently on posters
The college has been at the centre of several abuse cases in recent years, with recruits accusing instructors of physical and verbal abuse. Cpl Knight says she was subjected to ‘continuous racially charged remarks’ and claims soldiers viewed her as ‘inferior’ due to her race.
Speaking of her boss, Cpl Knight said her commanding officer ‘consistently failed to adequately address’ these issues.
She also claimed another officer ‘did not correct my peers whenever he witnessed them being bullies by making or acting in a sexist, homophobic or racist way towards me… but instead would join in or encourage them to do so.’
She added: ‘There are so many more incidents where I feel as though [he] failed me as my platoon commander by allowing and participating in acts that are sexist, racist and bullying towards me, leaving me feeling victimised and isolated in my own working environment.’
Cpl Knight, from Nottingham, joined up in 2011 and spent a number of years based overseas.
In 2019, she fronted the £1.5 million ‘Your Army Needs You’ recruitment campaign and featured prominently on posters.
In the same year, The Mail on Sunday revealed how she was racially abused by six soldiers while stationed at a UK military base in Germany.
Her attackers were disciplined for using offensive words and accusing her of using her skin colour to secure promotions.
A preliminary hearing regarding the current case has taken place but there is no date yet for the full tribunal.
The Ministry of Defence declined to comment.
Sexism and the City? It’s rife, say MPs
Women working for Britain’s biggest banks and money firms still face sexism and harassment, a report will reveal this week.
In a damning indictment of the City of London’s failure to tackle discrimination, the Commons’ Treasury Committee will conclude that levels of harassment and other sexist behaviours have remained largely unchanged since an investigation in 2018.
The report, due out on International Women’s Day on Friday, follows a string of scandals, including allegations against senior staff at its main lobbying body, the Confederation of British Industry.
Amanda Blanc, chief executive of insurance giant Aviva, has spoken publicly about the scourge of sexism.
A recent survey found some women believe maternity leave is more damaging to their career than sexual misconduct allegations are to a man’s job.