Army Instagram Star Sues MoD for £660k Over Alleged Bullying by Superior
A former Army sergeant and award-winning social media influencer is taking the Ministry of Defence to the High Court, seeking £660,000 in compensation for alleged bullying and harassment by his commanding officer.
Allegations of Daily Abuse and Humiliation
Jonathan Biney, 38, who served in the Royal Logistic Corps, claims his superior subjected him to a campaign of "bullying" while deployed with the British Army Training Unit in Kenya from 2020 to 2022. According to court documents, the quartermaster allegedly swore at Biney on a daily basis, using offensive language including calling him a "miserable c**t" to "humiliate, degrade and denigrate" him.
Biney's barrister, David White, stated in claim documents that the superior "treated the claimant less favourably than his peers" in multiple ways, including workload distribution and communication style. The barrister highlighted particularly unusual treatment where Biney was forced to repeatedly march formally into the officer's office—a requirement not imposed on others and highly unusual for a sergeant in the field army.
From Army Chef to Award-Winning Influencer
Ghana-born Biney joined the Army in 2009, initially serving as a chef before undertaking front line duties in Afghanistan and later becoming a logistics supply specialist. In 2020, he received the Military Communicator of the Year award from the Company of Communicators, presented by the Lord Mayor of London, for his work using Instagram to promote understanding of Army life.
The Army website reportedly praised Biney at the time as "an authentic and outstanding ambassador giving enthralling insight into some of the other tasks the military has been engaged in around the world."
The Alleged Trigger: Accounting Discrepancies
According to the claim, the alleged mistreatment began after Biney identified accounting discrepancies revealing missing equipment. His superior allegedly turned against him over this issue, confronting him and accusing him of "cooking the books" to make the officer look bad.
Soon after this confrontation, the quartermaster allegedly summoned Biney to his office and "swore repeatedly at him" before threatening to punch him in the face. The barrister stated that the officer "had come close enough to Mr Biney to punch him, and his conduct and demeanour were such that the claimant reasonably apprehended that he would punch him."
Further Allegations of Public Humiliation
Additional alleged incidents include the quartermaster approaching Biney in an open plan office and telling him to "sort your face out." When Biney asked what this meant, the officer allegedly replied: "you look like a miserable c**t"—a comment described by Biney's barrister as "humiliating, degrading, and demeaning for a sergeant in front of colleagues."
On another occasion, the quartermaster allegedly forced Biney to march into his office, then laughed and mockingly asked a colleague, "how this c**t ever got through basic training." The officer reportedly repeated this marching requirement multiple times, claiming Biney was performing it poorly.
Psychological Impact and Departure from Service
Biney eventually left the Army, having developed psychiatric symptoms that his barrister says affect his work, domestic, and social life. He has been diagnosed with "significant depression, with anxiety and some post-traumatic symptoms, including flashbacks," and has required therapy and psychiatric medication.
The lawsuit claims the MoD was at fault in "causing, permitting or tolerating a culture which encouraged or allowed bullying and harassment in the workplace."
MoD's Response and Legal Proceedings
In its defence, the MoD denies the allegations through barrister Dominic Ruck Keene. The defence states: "It is denied that [the quartermaster] repeatedly swore at the claimant in an offensive and/or aggressive manner, as opposed to swearing as a means of emphasis."
The MoD admits that on one occasion Biney was referred to as "the c**t" but denies daily swearing or repeated use of the term. The defence also denies that the line manager "singled out the claimant inappropriately" or "inappropriately threatened, humiliated, screamed at or intimidated the claimant."
Regarding the marching requirements, the MoD claims this was "simply part of normal military protocols" and not bullying. The defence also addresses equipment discrepancies, admitting previous issues but stating they were "subsequently resolved in accordance with policy" after being thought due to a recent base move.
The case recently appeared before Master Richard Armstrong for a hearing on legal costs budgeting for the future trial. It will now be listed for a full trial of Biney's compensation claim unless the parties reach an out-of-court settlement.
