Royal Navy nuclear sub whistleblower claims being left in limbo after sexual abuse allegations is like ‘a second injury’
A whistleblower who raised the alarm 18 months ago about alleged sexual harassment and abuse onboard the UK’s nuclear-armed submarines says she feels let down and left in limbo by the Royal Navy.
Admiral Sir Ben Key, the head of the navy, ordered an internal inquiry into the claims made in a newspaper interview in October 2022 by Sophie Brook, a former naval officer, and other women about their treatment while serving in the elite Submarine Service.
Summing up her core allegation, Ms Brook, 32, told Sky News: “There is sexual assault, sexual harassment, and misogyny is widespread within the Submarine Service.”
After first going public, she said she had “multiple people contacting me saying the same thing happened to me… that ranged from minor sexual assault all the way up to rape”.
Ms Brook, who could have become the first female captain of a submarine but has since resigned from the navy, gave evidence to the investigation as well as to the military police.
Sophie Brook
She said she was told last year by the navy that the outcome of the inquiry would be made public very soon, but she is still waiting for any kind of update.
“I believe it was back in 2023 – sometime in the summer when they promised that the report was imminent – was the last time I heard from the navy,” she said, sitting with her father, David, also a former naval officer, who has been a huge support to her.
Asked how this made her feel, she said: “It’s rude… it’s like having a second injury.”
Sky News revealed last year how victims of alleged sexual harassment and bullying in the Red Arrows felt they had suffered a second wound from the Royal Air Force after a separate – similarly internal – inquiry dragged on for almost two years, largely in secret.
Sophie with her father, David, who also served in the Royal Navy
Sarah Atherton, a Conservative MP, army veteran and member of parliament’s defence select committee, has worked tirelessly to raise awareness about the treatment of women in the armed forces.
She said she was appalled at the length of time it was taking for the Royal Navy to investigate the submarine allegations without providing any kind of update to the victims.
Ms Atherton also called into question the fairness of the entire system of military justice, which enables the individual services to launch so-called non-statutory inquiries into serious allegations that their own officers are then tasked with investigating.
‘Justice delayed is justice denied’
“For victims, witnesses and alleged perpetrators to have to wait 18 months for an outcome – and by all accounts not even being kept up to date – is completely unacceptable,” Ms Atherton said in an interview.
“Justice delayed is justice denied. And the use of non-statutory investigations by the Ministry of Defence is just another way that they’re just marking their own homework.”
Sarah Atherton MP
A spokesperson for the Royal Navy said: “The First Sea Lord is clear that any behaviour which falls short of the highest standards will not be tolerated and anyone found culpable will be held accountable.
“Work around an investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour in the Submarine Service is ongoing and given the complex nature of the allegations, it is important to take time to do this thoroughly.”
‘Hostility and harassment from the start’
Ms Brook chose to join the Submarine Service after a ban on female submariners was lifted in 2011. However, she alleged that she suffered hostility and harassment from the start.
The situation was so grave she said it badly impacted her mental health, prompting her to start self-harming even while serving for months at a time onboard the nuclear-armed submarines that provide the UK’s nuclear deterrence – the cornerstone of UK security.
Pic: PA
She said she initially raised concerns internally about her alleged mistreatment.
But she claimed that the Royal Navy turned on her, accusing her of fraud and of revealing information about the movement of a submarine.
On the fraud charge, Ms Brook said she decided to plead guilty at court-martial because she had not been allowed more time to produce bank records that she claimed showed she had made car journeys that she had claimed petrol money for.
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‘I didn’t gain a penny’
Showing the Tesco bank records to Sky News, Ms Brook said: “I did not gain a single penny.
“I made many, many journeys home, probably over 20 journeys home that year to see my family. However, they were not always on the exact day that I had put the claim in for, sometimes they were a week later, sometimes they were a week earlier, and sometimes they were on the right day and, you know, the admin was correct.
“But, the navy, I perhaps provided them with an open goal. I was someone that was complaining and making problems, and I absolutely made an admin error and where I believe anyone else and any other male certainly would have been told this is incorrect admin, do it properly next time, I was taken to court martial for it.”
Sophie showed her bank records to Sky News
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Ms Brook said evidence of her fragile mental health had also not been considered by the court.
She read a letter from a senior doctor detailing her mental state at the time.
It said: “Miss Brook’s mental health was discussed with a senior psychiatrist. At this time, her mental health would undoubtedly have affected her judgement. And as such, I do not feel she can be held accountable for her actions.”
Asked about the litigation, the Royal Navy spokesperson said: “All court martial trials are independent and presided over by a judge advocate, who is appointed in the same way as judges in other courts and ensures that matters are handled fairly and in compliance with the law.”
England and Scotland fans have found out where their World Cup group games will be played when the tournament kicks off in June.
England, who are in Group L, will begin their tournament against Croatia in Dallas at 4pm EST (9pm BST) on 17 June. They will then go on to face Ghana in Boston at 4pm EST (9pm BST) on 23 June and Panama in New Jersey, New York, at 5pm EST (10pm BST) on 27 June.
Scotland are in Group C, and their first match will be against Haiti in Boston at 9pm EST on 13 June (2am GMT the following morning).
They will go up against Morocco also in Boston at 6pm EST (11pm GMT) on 19 June and then Brazil in Miami at 6pm EST (11pm GMT) on 24 June.
Fans are expected to rush to sort their travel and accommodation plans now that they know where and when the matches take place.
Read more: Unapologetically political – a World Cup draw like no other
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England and Scotland learn World Cup fate
Wales and Northern Ireland have yet to find out if they will qualify.
Wales must face a play-off against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Cardiff, then either Italy or Northern Ireland, if they are victorious.
If they beat these play-off opponents, they will secure their place in Group B alongside Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.
However, Northern Ireland will also be vying to guarantee their spot in the same group if they can beat Italy and then either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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World Cup 2026 – who England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland will play
Scotland and England now know who they will face in the group stage of the next summer’s world cup.
But the fates of Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Wales won’t be determined until they compete in pre-tournament play-off matches in March.
England are in Group L along with Croatia, Panama and Ghana. Their first match will be against Croatia, who beat them in the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Pic: Reuters
Scotland’s first match will be against Haiti, in Group C.
Brazil and Morocco are the other Group C teams – both countries were also in the same opening group as Scotland in the 1998 World Cup in France.
Trump and Infantino at the World Cup draw
Wales have yet to find out if they will qualify as they must face a play-off against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Cardiff, and then either Italy or Northern Ireland, if they are victorious.
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If they can overcome these play-off opponents then they will secure their place in Group B along with Canada, Qatar and Switzerland. But Northern Ireland will also be vying and hoping to guarantee their spot in the same group if they can beat Italy and then either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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‘Bring it on!’: Scotland fans react to World Cup draw
The Republic of Ireland also need to get through the play-offs first and are paired against the Czech Republic for their semi-final. Should Ireland win that match, they will need to beat either North Macedonia or Denmark to get to the finals where an opening group containing joint hosts Mexico, South Africa and South Korea awaits.
This was a World Cup draw like no other. Crafted less for the teams but for one man.
The choice of venue. The creation of a new trophy. The closing music act.
Donald Trump was lavished with the adulation he craves by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and feels others unfairly deny him.
Knowing how much being overlooked by the Nobel Committee hurt the US president, there was Mr Infantino with FIFA’s newly-created Peace Prize to hand over. And a medal for Mr Trump to wear.
“This is truly one of the great honours of my life,” he said. “And beyond awards, Gianni and I were discussing this. We saved millions and millions of lives.”
This was all on the stage in front of an audience who turned up to find out who they will be playing at the World Cup.
England handed an undaunting route past Croatia, Panama and Ghana. Scotland paired with newcomers Haiti before tricky reunions from their last men’s World Cup in 1998 against Brazil and Morocco.
Pic: Reuters
But the show before the draw could even begin – presided over by Rio Ferdinand – took almost as long as a football match, at 87 minutes after the noon kick-off was delayed.
There was a walk of self-promotion to complete – “I guess they have to wait” – before taking his seat in the Kennedy Center. Or the Trump Kennedy Center as the president takes to calling the venue picked 1.5 miles from the White House.
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England manager Thomas Tuchel reacts to draw
“It was falling apart,” he said, delaying the walk into the auditorium. “And now it’s, it’s pretty much back.”
Mr Infantino could only watch on, beaming, at his friend.
“We had a dead country,” Mr Trump went on, “and now we have the hottest country anywhere in the world”.
There was the awkwardness of being reminded, before receiving the peace accolade, about threats to launch military strikes on Venezuela to stop the drugs trade.
“I did settle eight wars, and we have a ninth coming,” he swatted away the question. “Which nobody’s ever done before. But I want to really save lives. I don’t need prizes.”
But FIFA knew how much he wanted more gold for the collection with the prize.
More on this story:
What draw means for England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland
Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Pic: Reuters
Pic: Reuters
And for all the mockery and disdain targeted at FIFA, how many sports would relish having the US president spend several hours attending a procedural event determining the placing of teams in groups for a tournament?
How many would dish out the same flattery to secure direct lines to the leader of the nation staging their championship?
Many have benefited from Mr Trump’s stardust and swagger being attached to this spectacle.
Even Port Vale’s most famous fan – Robbie Williams – secured a walk-on role, exceeding his profile this side of the Pond.
And the Village People are reaping the rewards of becoming the unlikeliest of Trump hype acts.
The festivities ended with eyes fixed back up to the presidential seating and the YMCA dance being performed.
This was an afternoon that dispelled any pretence that FIFA keeps a distance from politics. It was unapologetically political. But few speak out in the FIFA world as the redistributed wealth keeps rolling back in their direction.
It would be easy to forget this isn’t entirely America’s World Cup. They’re sharing hosting with Canada and Mexico.
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‘Bring it on!’: Scotland fans react to World Cup draw
And eventually the spotlight was ceded to their leaders – very briefly – as Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney drew out their countries’ names.
But it did live up to FIFA’s mantra that football can unite the world.
The neighbours were brought together here on a snowy day in Washington. And tensions – often stoked by Mr Trump with Canada and Mexico – thawed in the name of football.
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