Deaf soldier wins £330K damages from Ministry Of Defence

A soldier has won £330,000 from the Ministry of Defence for hearing loss, after being told not to wear earplugs during a training exercise to make it more “battle realistic”. Charles Bradlaugh was left with hearing loss and tinnitus.

Mr Bradlaugh, 22, was a cadet when colleagues started firing before he could find earplugs or alert anyone at Barry Buddon Training Centre in Carnoustie, Angus, in 2004.

He was given a discharge from the army on health grounds in 2007. Mr Bradlaugh, of Sunderland, had sued the MoD for breach of statutory duty saying his condition left him “disadvantaged in the labour market”. The MoD admitted liability.

At Newcastle county court yesterday he was compensated for loss of earnings and damages. Judge Christopher Walton said: “I’m satisfied it was his intention to continue in this career for 22 years.”

Story originally seen on The Deaf Blog.