Navy intelligence chief is sacked for stalking a female pilot
A SENIOR Royal Navy intelligence expert was dismissed from the service for stalking a trainee woman pilot for four years.
Lieutenant Commander Andrew Thompson was found guilty of stalking Leading Aircrewman Hannah Leask
It left his victim in “hysterical tears” and suffering from severe anxiety.
Lieutenant Commander Andrew Thompson, an instructor and experienced pilot, pleaded guilty to stalking Leading Aircrewman Hannah Leask.
The 52-year-old father of two was also sentenced at a court martial at Portsmouth Naval Base to a six-month prison sentence suspended for two years.
The victim was awarded £5,000 in compensation
He was ordered to pay compensation of £5,000 to his victim and given a 30-day rehabilitation order.
You clearly abused your rank. She has lived in constant dread
Judge Advocate General Jeff Blackett said: “This is a very serious matter. It’s even more serious because of your rank differential.
“You clearly abused your rank. She has lived in constant dread.”
Captain Alison Towler, prosecuting, said Thompson had “bombarded” the junior rating with Facebook messages, emails, letters, and gifts, including boxes of chocolates, perfume and a graduation present.
The stalking has left Leask feeling mortified
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She eventually sent him a number of messages in March 2014 asking him to stop contacting her, including one that stated: “Stop stop stop, I feel hounded.”
Captain Towler added that Hannah had changed Thompson’s name on her phone to The Stalker.
In a victim impact statement Hannah said: “The more and more it went on, I became increasingly frustrated and stressed and intimidated.”
Thompson bombarded Leask with Facebook messages, emails, and gifts
Bob Scott, defending, said that Thompson, who has 29 years service in the Navy, was “truly mortified and sorry”.
He said: “This was not about sex. He has not sexually touched Hannah Leask or sought to have sex with her.”
Thompson, who lives near Salisbury, Wiltshire, with his wife and children, had previously had a complaint of harassment against another woman colleague dealt with “administratively”.