Female sailor expects six-figure payout after winning Navy discrimination case

Chief Petty Officer Jacqueline Cartner took her case to the Southampton Employment Tribunal after she was passed over for promotion to warrant officer.

Now the married mother-of-two could be in line for a payout the equivalent of 10 years' pay if an agreement is not reached with the Navy.

A spokesman for the service said it intends to appeal against the tribunal's findings. He said: "The service is very disappointed with the tribunal's findings. After consideration and with advice from MoD's legal advisers, it is intended to appeal."

CPO Cartner's solicitor Kam Bains said the tribunal ruled that the Royal Navy had discriminated against the sailor, contrary to the Sex Discrimination Act 1975.

He said it also made recommendations for reform as it found the Navy's promotion system was "a matter of concern" and the procedure employed by the promotion board was "primitive".

The case concerned the decision of the Royal Navy's annual promotion board in 2008, where CPO Cartner was the only female candidate considered for promotion.

She had carried out the role of warrant officer in an acting capacity since February 2006, while none of her male rivals had performed at that level.

She also asserted that she was seen as less worthy of promotion because of her non-seagoing status.

CPO Cartner was selected as the Nato Military Member of the Year in 2000 and awarded an MBE in 2001. She had received excellent appraisals throughout her career, having been promoted to each and every rank faster than every one of her competitors and regularly outperformed other male peers.