Tank commander sues MoD for £500k over Ajax testing injury

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 12 Oct, 11:01 · Archive

A former tank commander is suing the Ministry of Defence for £500,000, claiming he suffered hearing damage while testing the Army's new Ajax armoured vehicles.

Jonathan Bevan, 46, a former sergeant in the Household Cavalry, is suing the Ministry of Defence for £500,000 after being medically discharged in June 2023. He claims his hearing and mental health were damaged by testing the Army's new Ajax armoured vehicle fleet between 2017 and 2021.

Mr Bevan alleges he suffered 'acoustic shock' syndrome caused by repeated 'piercing' emergency alarms that sounded in his headset whilst operating the 40-ton light tank. According to the Daily Mail, the alarms sounded 'every six to seven seconds'. He is now before Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr and two senior judges at the Court of Appeal, challenging a lower court decision from April which dismissed his claim. That court found there was no 'memorable event' triggering his hearing problems and no compelling evidence of acoustic shock syndrome.

Although the MoD has previously admitted negligence in relation to high levels of noise within the tank, it denies that this triggered acoustic shock and disputes whether Mr Bevan's condition was caused by noise from his headset. The Ajax fleet has been described in Parliament as 'troubled' and has experienced delays and difficulties in development.

How it is being reported

• Tank commander sues MoD for £500,000 over claims he suffered 'acoustic shock' while testing Army's new £6.3billion Ajax fleetJonathan Bevan, 46, was medically discharged from the Army in June 2023 after he complained of chronic tinnitus and mental health problems.Daily Mail · 12 Oct, 10:50
• Tank commander sues MoD for £500k over damage from testing 'troubled' new Ajax fleetJonathan Bevan, 46, left the Army after he was medically discharged complaining of chronic tinnitusThe Independent · 12 Oct, 08:43

In this story: Jonathan Bevan · Ministry of Defence · Household Cavalry · Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr

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