Latest news with #BenKey
Daily Mirror
23-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Royal Navy base is 'locked down' over 'revenge porn' claim
An investigation is under way after a nude photo of a young female Royal Navy recruit is said to have been shared by an ex partner at HMS Raleigh in Torpoint, Cornwall A Royal Navy base was placed in 'lockdown' after nude pictures of a cadet was shared by an ex partner amid a revenge porn claim. A communication blackout has been ordered at HMS Raleigh, located near Torpoint in Cornwall - the largest training site in the south west of the UK. It is believed two recruits had previously been in a relationship before signing up but were in separate intakes. By the time the young female recruit had joined, her then former partner had already joined - and shared an x-rated photo with colleagues which sparked the action at the base. Its hundreds of recruits have been ordered to hand in their mobile phones as part of the action. A source told The Sun: 'They had joined in separate intakes and when the young woman enlisted, some time after her former partner, she discovered intimate pictures had been shared on the base without her consent. "By that point her former partner had already left the Navy. He never completed training. 'Only one person is under investigation. No other recruits are suspected of wrongdoing.' A message sent to parents is said to have read: 'Welfare calls are being made to under-18s' parents to say that their recruits are OK but the base is on communication blackout due to an ongoing police investigation.' A spokesman for the Royal Navy told the publication: 'The welfare of our recruits is our number one priority and a restriction on the use of mobile phones was in place for a short time. 'A civilian police investigation is ongoing.' The Navy has been contacted by the Mirror for updates on the situation. The incident comes weeks after the Royal Navy's chief was suspended over allegations he had an affair with a comrade. Admiral Sir Ben Key was told to step back from all duties as First Sea Lord while a probe was carried out. The married 59-year-old is "under investigation over an alleged inappropriate relationship with a female officer under his command', a source reportedly said. Vice Admiral Sir Martin Connell, the Second Sea Lord, has taken command of the Navy. It is understood Admiral Key is unlikely to face a court martial because the alleged affair is not a crime. Admiral Key is reportedly suspected of breaking the Navy's 'service test' – effectively outlawing sexual relationships between commanders and subordinates. The dad-of-three was due to stand down in the summer, with Royal Marine General Gwyn Jenkins taking over.
Russia Today
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
British general accused of killings cover-up takes helm of Royal Navy
The British government has appointed General Gwyn Jenkins as First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff. Approved by King Charles III on Thursday, the decision follows unresolved allegations that Jenkins had failed to report suspected war crimes in Afghanistan and later obstructed the relocation of key witnesses. The general succeeds Admiral Ben Key, who stepped down last week amid an ongoing misconduct investigation. Media reports suggest that the probe centers on Key's alleged affair with a more junior female colleague. Jenkins came under scrutiny two years ago when the BBC reported that the then-Vice-Chief of the Defense Staff had failed to forward evidence of Special Air Service (SAS) soldiers executing handcuffed detainees in Afghanistan to the Royal Military Police. At the time, Jenkins did not respond to the allegations. The UK Ministry of Defense stated that it was 'not appropriate for us to comment on allegations which may be within the scope of the statutory inquiry.' In April 2024, then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak appointed Jenkins—then Vice-Chief of the Defense Staff—as National Security Adviser. However, the appointment was later reversed by the incoming government led by Keir Starmer. While Starmer declined to comment on individual appointments, he emphasized the need for an 'open and transparent process' for future nominations. Media outlets attributed the reversal to Jenkins' implication in the ongoing inquiry. Earlier this month, BBC Panorama reported that Jenkins had overseen the rejection of hundreds of relocation applications submitted by Afghan commandos who had served alongside British forces and possessed direct knowledge of UK military operations. The report stated that these rejections effectively blocked key witnesses from reaching Britain and testifying in the public inquiry into the Afghan conflict.
Scottish Sun
16-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Fresh Royal Navy sex scandal as training base dramatically ‘locked down' over revenge porn claims
A ROYAL Navy training base was 'locked down' over revenge porn claims in the latest sex scandal to rock the senior service. Navy chiefs ordered a communication blackout at HMS Raleigh to stop X-rated images of a recruit going viral. 1 Navy chiefs ordered a communication blackout at HMS Raleigh to stop X-rated images of a recruit going viral Credit: Google Hundreds of rookies — including some as young as 16 and 17 — were ordered to hand in their phones. A message sent to their parents said: 'Welfare calls are being made to under-18s' parents to say that their recruits are OK but the base is on communication blackout due to an ongoing police investigation.' The Navy warned parents that the blackout — known as River City state — could last up to 96 hours. The Sun understood that two recruits at HMS Raleigh, in Torpoint, Cornwall, had been in a relationship prior to joining the Navy. A Navy source told The Sun: 'They had joined in separate intakes and when the young woman enlisted, some time after her former partner, she discovered that intimate pictures had been shared on the base without her consent. "By that point her former partner had already left the Navy. He never completed training. 'Only one person is under investigation. No other recruits are suspected of wrongdoing.' The Royal Navy said: 'The welfare of our recruits is our number one priority and a restriction on the use of mobile phones was in place for a short time. "A civilian police investigation is ongoing.' The incident comes days after the Navy's most senior officer, First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Ben Key, was suspended over an alleged affair, and the captain of warship HMS Tyne, Lt Cdr Martyn Mayger, was stripped of command amid claims of 'unacceptable sexual behaviour'.
Russia Today
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
General accused of Afghan cover-up takes helm of Royal Navy
The British government has appointed General Gwyn Jenkins as First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff. Approved by King Charles III on Thursday, the decision follows unresolved allegations that Jenkins had failed to report suspected war crimes in Afghanistan and later obstructed the relocation of key witnesses. The general succeeds Admiral Ben Key, who stepped down last week amid an ongoing misconduct investigation. Media reports suggest that the probe centers on Key's alleged affair with a more junior female colleague. Jenkins came under scrutiny two years ago when the BBC reported that the then-Vice-Chief of the Defense Staff had failed to forward evidence of Special Air Service (SAS) soldiers executing handcuffed detainees in Afghanistan to the Royal Military Police. At the time, Jenkins did not respond to the allegations. The UK Ministry of Defense stated that it was 'not appropriate for us to comment on allegations which may be within the scope of the statutory inquiry.' In April 2024, then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak appointed Jenkins—then Vice-Chief of the Defense Staff—as National Security Adviser. However, the appointment was later reversed by the incoming government led by Keir Starmer. While Starmer declined to comment on individual appointments, he emphasized the need for an 'open and transparent process' for future nominations. Media outlets attributed the reversal to Jenkins' implication in the ongoing inquiry. Earlier this month, BBC Panorama reported that Jenkins had overseen the rejection of hundreds of relocation applications submitted by Afghan commandos who had served alongside British forces and possessed direct knowledge of UK military operations. The report stated that these rejections effectively blocked key witnesses from reaching Britain and testifying in the public inquiry into the Afghan conflict.
Arab News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
New Royal Navy chief under renewed scrutiny over Afghanistan war crimes evidence
LONDON: The man chosen as the new head of the UK's Royal Navy was previously accused of failing to report evidence of war crimes allegedly committed by British forces in Afghanistan. Gen. Sir Gwyn Jenkins, who was appointed on Thursday, also faced allegations this week that he oversaw the rejection of hundreds of resettlement applications from former Afghan special forces members who served alongside British troops against the Taliban, The Guardian newspaper reported. Jenkins replaces Adm. Ben Key, who stepped down last week over allegations of misconduct. The new navy chief previously led UK Special Forces in Afghanistan during the war against the Taliban. That conflict is under renewed scrutiny in Britain following recent fresh allegations of war crimes involving members of Britain's elite Special Air Service and Special Boat Service. In 2023, it emerged that Jenkins had been warned in writing in 2011 that SAS troops had claimed to have executed handcuffed detainees in Afghanistan. Rather than refer this evidence to the Royal Military Police, the BBC reported at the time, Jenkins placed the documents in a safe. However, The Telegraph newspaper reported that Jenkins did pass the evidence up the chain of command at the time. This week, an investigation by the BBC current affairs program 'Panorama' revealed that Jenkins personally appointed an officer under his command to assess the Afghan resettlement applications. Thousands of former elite Afghan soldiers were rejected, despite credible evidence of their service alongside British counterparts. The UK's Ministry of Defence said it was 'not appropriate … to comment on allegations which may be within the scope of the statutory inquiry,' referring to a public inquiry underway in the UK to investigate the war crimes allegations. There was 'no evidence' that Afghan resettlement applications were rejected to prevent the former soldiers from giving evidence to the war crimes inquiry, it added. Defence Secretary John Healey on Thursday described Jenkins as a 'proven leader with a distinguished career in both the military and at the core of government.' He added: 'I know he will deliver in this pivotal role, making Britain secure at home and strong abroad.' Sarah Atherton, a former Tory MP who sat on the Defence Select Committee, told The Telegraph: 'Military personnel, especially senior leaders, are held to high ethical and behavior standards. 'If somebody is facing an allegation … I know it's alleged, but it's just very strange to appoint someone who is in this position, given the circumstances. That is bizarre.' Jenkins said after his appointment that he wanted to 'accelerate' the Royal Navy's return to a 'war fighting force that is ready for conflict.'
