JMW Solicitors secured a five-figure settlement for Flight Sergeant J, who suffered severe anxiety and a relapse of alcohol use disorder due to bullying on an RAF base. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) admitted breaching its duty of care, which led to the successful outcome.

The Case

Flight Sergeant J endured persistent bullying and harassment from a colleague while serving on an RAF base. The bullying included intimidating behaviour, such as clenched fists, shouting and intense staring, as well as being ignored, disrespected and publicly undermined. The situation escalated when the colleague filed an unfounded service complaint against Flight Sergeant J and coerced others into making similar false allegations. Although Flight Sergeant J was eventually vindicated, the experience left him feeling humiliated.

The bullying took a toll on Flight Sergeant J's mental health, leading to a severe low mood, intense anxiety and a loss of work enjoyment. He also developed avoidance behaviours related to his work responsibilities.

The Claim

Flight Sergeant J filed a formal service complaint against his colleague, which was upheld. While he received an apology, the psychological impact of the bullying persisted. Seeking further justice, Flight Sergeant J contacted JMW Solicitors. We obtained evidence from a consultant psychiatrist, which confirmed that Flight Sergeant J had developed a psychiatrically recognised adjustment disorder and experienced a relapse of alcohol use disorder due to the stress caused by the bullying. The psychiatrist recommended twelve sessions of cognitive behaviour therapy to help manage his residual anxiety.

JMW submitted a detailed letter of claim to the MOD’s claims handlers with evidence of the MOD’s breach of duty of care towards Flight Sergeant J.

Final Settlement

After negotiations with the MOD’s Legal Team, JMW secured a five-figure settlement for Flight Sergeant J. The settlement provided him with a sense of justice and closure, and allowed him to move forward knowing that his experiences had been acknowledged and addressed.