Navy chiefs must crack down on sex pests in the service by reminding the ranks that 'the defence of this country is more important than your sex drive', a retired admiral said yesterday.

Former Rear Admiral Chris Parry called for 'zero tolerance' after claims of bullying and sexual harassment of women in the Submarine Service triggered an urgent Navy inquiry.

'It needs to be zero tolerance, from the top down and the bottom up,' he told Radio 4's Today programme. 'If you are subjected to sexual harassment then you've got to say it is. It takes moral courage in a hierarchy . . .

'The top leadership has got to say, and the Navy's better at this, I have to say, than the Army and the Air Force, "It is zero tolerance, we won't put up with it."

'When I was commanding a mixed ship I used to say to people, "The defence of this country is actually more important that your sex drive" and I will take very seriously any attempt by anybody to impose their, if you like, assault or, indeed, their banter, as they called it, on anybody else.'

He added that the problem of sexual harassment was also a societal one. His comments came after the Daily Mail exclusively revealed how trailblazing lieutenant Sophie Brook, 30, had experienced sexual harassment after becoming one of the first women to join the service.

Sophie Brook, 30, pictured with her dog Ailsa, made history as the first female warfare officer and was on course to become the first female captain of a submarine, but says the service...

Read Full Story: https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMijwFodHRwczovL3d3dy5kYWlseW1ha...