Navy Officer, RAF Officer......will the Army be next to lose one????
How long will it be before the Army gets a slice of the same?
Bully' RAF chief nicked
Gorman ... faces grilling
FULL NEWS INDEX
By TOM NEWTON DUNN
Defence Editor
AN RAF chief has faced the humiliation of being ordered home from a secret mission — to be arrested over alleged bullying and corruption.
Wing Commander Nigel Gorman was summoned back from America — where he was working on a special forces project.
The officer, who faces a grilling over THIRTY accusations made by his staff, was arrested within hours of returning to the UK.
He was also removed from commanding the MoD’s elite parachute training school based at Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.
The scandal emerged just a day after The Sun revealed warship captain Commander David Axon had been booted off his Royal Navy frigate amid allegations of bullying.
Last night an RAF source said: “Gorman is the sort of man you either love or hate. He’s a strong personality and a talented officer.
“But he has made his fair share of enemies over the years. It looks like they’re now coming back to haunt him.”
Base ... RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire
RAF sources revealed investigators have compiled a dossier on the wing commander, who is in his 40s. It is said to include claims of intimidation, sexual harassment, bullying and cronyism. The officer is also alleged to have misappropriated service vehicles for his personal use.
The Sun was told the accusations came from a number of officers and other ranks under Gorman’s command — ranging from squadron leader down to instructing sergeants.
Yesterday the RAF refused to comment on one suggestion made to The Sun that Gorman had “borrowed” official cars to go on holiday in France. Officially, the wing commander remains commanding officer of No1 Parachute Training School. But since his arrest he has been moved to a low profile job at RAF Innsworth until the investigation is completed.
If convicted of any serious charges, Wing Cdr Gorman would be thrown out of the RAF in disgrace. He could even face jail.
The wing commander, who earns £60,000 a year, was part of a US Air Force special forces project in California when he was ordered back a fortnight ago. It is virtually unheard of for commanders to be relieved early under a cloud while in the middle of operations - especially missions as sensitive as Wing Cdr Gorman’s.
An RAF spokeswoman said last night: “We can confirm that the officer concerned returned early from detachment in the USA because of the nature of the allegations.
Allegations ... Gorman yesterday
“It was deemed to be in the best interests of all the personnel concerned.” As head of No1 Parachute Training School, the wing commander is in charge of 13 officers and 60 senior NCO instructors.
One of his key roles is teaching SAS and Special Boat Service commandos to skydive from high altitude. Men under him have also been sent to support clandestine operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Last night his defenders insisted the allegations stemmed from a long-standing grudge by certain staff.
An RAF source revealed military cops were probing suggestions that witnesses were even leaned on to give evidence against him.
Wing Cdr Gorman was tight-lipped at the £400,000 detached home he shares with wife Kylie in Witney, Oxfordshire. He said as he returned from walking the family’s dog Pepsi: “I’ve absolutely nothing to say.”
Additional reporting: JAMIE PYATT
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EXCLUSIVE
Crew tell of abuse
Serious allegations ... Cmdr David Axon
By TOM NEWTON DUNN
and JOHN KAY COMMANDER
David Axon was booted off his warship after complaints from two young officers, it was revealed yesterday.
Both sailors claim the boss of HMS Somerset subjected them to cruel and repeated verbal abuse. over a period of time.
And more alleged victims are expected to come forward as the probe continues, a senior source said last night.
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