Paratrooper deafened by RAF planes sues MoD for £700k after not being able to hear doorbell

A former paratrooper is suing the Ministry of Defence for more than £700,000 after suffering severe hearing damage during his military career.

Cleophys Hoare alleges he suffered life-changing hearing damage during a decade serving in the Army.

The 34-year-old from Gloucestershire, served as an infantryman with 3 Para before his medical discharge in 2024 following a decade in the armed forces.

The ex-lance corporal claims he sustained life-altering hearing loss after being subjected to dangerously high noise levels whilst travelling on military aircraft to parachute training exercises.

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His condition has deteriorated to the point where he cannot hear his doorbell, according to documents filed at London's High Court.

Mr Hoare's barrister, Sabrina Hartshorn, told the court that standard-issue ear protection proved wholly inadequate during his service.

Whilst completing approximately 30 parachute jumps from bases including Merville Barracks in Colchester and RAF Brize Norton, he was given only basic ear buds rather than proper over-ear defenders.

"Over-the-ear defenders were not compatible with the helmets used by those parachuting. It was considered more important to wear the helmet rather than the correct hearing protection," Ms Hartshorn explained.

The former soldier was routinely exposed to the thunderous engines of C130 Hercules and Airbus A400M Atlas transport aircraft.

His hearing was further compromised during weapons training at ITC Catterick, where machine guns, assault rifles, grenades and flashbangs left him with persistent ringing in his ears lasting several days.

The impact on Mr Hoare's daily existence has been profound, affecting his ability to function normally within his own home, reports The Daily Mail.

He cannot detect when his washing machine cycle finishes or hear the ping of his microwave, court documents reveal.

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Group conversations involving three or more people have become particularly challenging due to his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

Ms Hartshorn told the court: "Loud sounds made him feel uncomfortable and he didn't like having lots of different noises around at the same time."

The father of three young boys finds it impossible to hear his children when the television is playing, with the competing sounds causing him considerable stress.

The psychological toll of Mr Hoare's condition has been equally devastating, with a psychiatrist diagnosing him with an adjustment disorder.

Ms Hartshorn described how her client found leaving military life "very hard" and has struggled significantly since his discharge.

"He had lost confidence; he was not sleeping well; he was sad and tearful most of the time; he rarely experienced pleasure; he felt tired and lacking in energy; he struggled to concentrate," she told the court.

The former serviceman, who spent a decade in uniform serving first with the Third Battalion of the Parachute Regiment between 2014 and 2020 before transferring to the Royal Logistics Corps, has found adapting to civilian existence an immense challenge.

The Ministry of Defence has conceded it will be responsible for 90 per cent of any damages ultimately awarded to Mr Hoare.

But lawyers from the MoD argue he must still prove both the extent of his injuries and that military noise exposure caused or materially contributed to them.

Barrister Kam Jaspal, for the MoD, told the court: "The claimant is required to prove that the defendant's negligence/breach of duty caused or materially contributed to the alleged, or any personal injury, loss and damage to the claimant."

At a procedural hearing before Deputy Master Lorna Skinner, Mr Hoare's solicitor Sam Edwards confirmed the claim already exceeds £700,000, though final figures remain unquantified.

The matter will return to court for a full trial.

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