UK: Ghanaian ex-soldier to repay £70k for lying about health in £1.6m lawsuit

Former British Army soldier, Michael Mantey, who sued the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for £1.6 million over a non-freezing cold injury he suffered while on duty in Estonia in late 2017, has been ordered to pay a court bill of over £70,000 after he was caught on video walking without a stick and wearing sandals.

Mantey, who had claimed that he could only walk with the aid of a stick and had to wear several layers of clothing due to his injury, dropped the case after the MoD presented the surveillance footage.

The judge, Mr Justice Eyre, found Mantey’s claim to be “fundamentally dishonest” as medical experts could find “no medical explanation” for the difference in appearance and symptoms, and said that the former soldier had “deliberately presented himself in a false manner” and “deliberately gave a false account of his symptoms.”

Mr. Mantey suffered reportedly a NCFI injury when he had to sleep in the cold without a tent.

NCFI, also known as Non-Freezing Cold Injury, is a specific kind of injury that affects hands and feet when they are exposed to extremely cold and damp conditions. It was initially observed in soldiers during World War I who were fighting in the trenches. This injury occurs due to the body’s tissue being exposed to prolonged wetness and extreme coldness.

The Ghana-born ex-soldier claimed that he was subjected to other periods of working in damagingly cold temperatures and was told to “man up” when he complained to his superiors.

As part of his claim, Mr. Mantey stated that he incurred “additional heating costs” through having to keep his house warmer than he would otherwise have done and had to “purchase warmer clothing.”

According to him, the discomfort in his feet, coupled with a back problem, made walking a challenging task and thus had to rely on a walking stick for mobility.

Mantey joined the British Army in 2009 and worked for the 22 and 26 Engineer Regiments until his medical discharge in January 2020.

During the trial, Mr Mantey provided evidence refuting any claims of dishonesty by stating that on good days with effective medication, he can walk without a stick.

He expressed a desire for others to understand the daily struggles he faces, indicating that if people witnessed his experiences firsthand, they might reconsider their assumptions about him.

Mr Mantey emphasized the severity of his injuries and the fact that he is in constant pain, which can occur at any time, catching him off guard.

The footage shown in court only captures one day of his life, and he wants people to understand that his condition is a lifelong struggle.

‘If only someone could see what I go through every day, then this story could be re-written. This is just one day of footage. I have been told my injuries would stay with me forever. Pain comes when you’re not prepared for it. It comes when it wants to come..,’ he said.

However, according to the judge, Mr Mantey did not experience the symptoms and reduced functionality he reported to various medical professionals in 2021 and 2022.

‘He chose to report symptoms which he knew were false and from which he was not suffering. He did so in the context of a substantial damages claim,’ he said.

‘The only possible explanation is that he did so deliberately and with a view to enhancing the value of the claim. Such conduct was clearly dishonest.

‘I find on the balance of probabilities that Mr Mantey suffered a minor NCFI, from which he had fully recovered at some point before September 2021.

‘He dishonestly portrayed himself as having suffered a more serious injury which had a continuing and disabling effect, doing so for financial gain.

‘That dishonesty tainted the whole of the claim. It went to the heart of the claim; it substantially affected the presentation of the case as a whole; and led to a significant inflation in the claim’s value.

‘Putting it shortly, there was dishonesty as to a central feature of the case, namely the extent and continuing effect of Mr Mantey’s injuries.’

As a result of this finding, Mr. Mantey is now responsible for paying the Ministry of Defense’s legal fees, which are expected to exceed £70,000.

 

Source: The Independent Ghana