Judge rules in soldier’s favour after sex discrimination case

Posted 12/04/2010

A tribunal has ruled in favour of a soldier seeking compensation from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) after ruling that the military body breached employment law.

Tilern DeBique, who originally hails from the Caribbean, became a member of the 10th Signal Regiment in 2001, but fell pregnant and had a baby in 2005.

Although the MoD originally agreed to alter her hours to allow her to care for the child, it subjected her to a disciplinary hearing after she was forced to take time off when her daughter became ill.

Ms DeBique was warned by her commanding officer that the army is “unsuitable for a single mother who couldn’t sort out her childcare arrangements”.

After feeling under increasing pressure to be available for duty at all times, Ms DeBique felt obliged to quit her job in 2008.

She launched a claim for sexual discrimination compensation against the MoD and has now been told that she could be eligible for £100,000 after winning her case.

The judge said the MoD should not have discriminated against her and criticised it for not helping her to find childcare.

All employees are protected from gender-based prejudice under the 1975 Sex Discrimination Act and anyone who believes their employer has breached the regulations may be able to claim compensation.