A high-ranking woman officer's military career lies in tatters after she lost a sexual discrimination case against the Army brought because a superior officer called her a bimbo.

Captain Janet Kelly, 35, said she was devastated when Lt Colonel Jean Kennedy aimed the jibe at her in a meeting.

Miss Kelly, one of the highest qualified nurses in the British Army, told how she was shocked by Lt Col Jean Kennedy's abrupt summary of her talents.

But the Army gave a very different account of the exchange at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, in February 1999.

The harsh words, they said, were meant in kindness to prepare the young captain for a tricky interview with the Army Selection Board.

Miss Kelly, of Middlesbrough, Teesside, accused the Army of sexual discrimination in a tribunal held at Newcastle.

The hearing concluded earlier this year and Miss Kelly's lawyer yesterday confirmed the case had gone against her.

Captain Kelly described the meeting with the formidable Glaswegian Lt Col Kennedy to the tribunal.

She said: "We discussed matters regarding the Queen Elizabeth Hospital where we worked and then she asked me why I wanted to apply for the Intermediate Regular Commission.

"Then she started asking me about the Army Selection Board. She said to me "what are you going to say to the Army Selection Board when they ask you why you want it. What have you go to offer?"

"I replied with 'I feel I have the ability, the managerial skills and the organisational skills to further my career with an IRC'.

"She then gave a reply of "You blonde, thick bimbo - you should be saying you want it as a stepping stone in your career."

Lt Col Kennedy, who is now retired from the Army after a 30-year career, told the tribunal: "I never did call her a thick bimbo. I said to her "for goodnes sake don't say that to the board. Do you want them to think you are a blonde bimbo?"

Captain Kelly is now in the Territorial Army, still ranked as captain and has applied for full-time reserve service.

Before leaving the Army Miss Kelly was a top athlete and served in Bosnia and Kosovo.

She was awarded a master's degree in human resource management from Teesside University after leaving the Army and now works as a bank midwife for South Tees NHS Trust.

On receiving the tribunal result her solicitor David Parker said: "The decision has gone against us and that is disappointing.

"I will be meeting with Captain Kelly to discuss the detailed findings of the tribunal in more depth.

"We will decide our next course of action at that time."