Female sailor tells royal commission navy failed to protect her after alleged sexual assault by shipmate

Young woman says she was stalked, abused, punished and denied help by her chain of command until she became suicidal

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A female sailor who was 18 when she was sexually assaulted by a fellow shipmen says the navy failed to protect her, and her fellow sailors taunted her with threats her career was ruined because I couldn't shut my legs".

The young sailor, who had joined the navy at 17, told the royal commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide on Friday that over the next five and a half years she would be stalked, abused, punished and denied help by her chain of command until she became suicidal.

Crisis support services can be reached 24 hours a day: Lifeline 13 11 14; Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467; Kids helpline 1800 55 1800; MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78; Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636