Ezekiel Wilkinson in the field. But he was soon mistaken. The texts prompted one of the strangest scandals yet to engulf Australia's top-secret special forces base known as Campbell Barracks at Swanbourne in Perth. Since the texts in March, Corporal Wilkinson has been at the centre of a major row involving topless barmaids at a government club and allegations of inappropriate peptide use and discrimination within the military. The incident again raises the issue of how successful the military is being in introducing a cultural change that is more tolerant and respectful of women.

Since the texts, Corporal Wilkinson has been under investigation for allegedly dealing in peptides at the base, which is home to Australia's elite counter-terrorist regiment, the secretive Special Air Service, or SAS. Last week, angered by the peptides investigation and without her son's knowledge, Corporal Wilkinson's mother released photos of topless barmaids cavorting with SAS troops in a government club known as the Gratwick Club, which adjoins the base. She alleged there was a double standard where military bosses were investigating her bisexual son, yet allowing topless barmaids in the club. Defence immediately rejected claims of discrimination and a spokesman said the topless practice had ceased last year. But a day later, Defence backflipped and said an investigation was under way and admitted the topless barmaids came back to the club earlier this year.

Corporal Wilkinson agreed to speak about the row to stop the careers of good soldiers from being "sacrificed" and to "set the record straight". The Afghanistan veteran denied ever dealing in peptides or that he had any warning his mother was going to leak the photos. He said the row had been devastating. "I have been isolated from my military friends, I am losing my job medically, I am being discriminated against and now my friend is getting screwed over by the same group of unethical officers," said Corporal Wilkinson, who is seeking a medical discharge related to a neck injury he suffered in Afghanistan after an improvised explosive device blew up under a vehicle near him. He said complaints about his alleged dealing of peptides were made only after the relationship between himself and the other soldier soured. Corporal Wilkinson said a consensual sex act had taken place earlier this year between himself and the soldier late one night after they were drinking and in a shared dormitory.

After the incident, they continued to be mates, he said and "he repeatedly asked me out". But Corporal Wilkinson said things changed after he criticised the soldier in front of others. He said the soldier assaulted him in public soon afterwards. "I have hooked up with a few guys in the army who are straight or curious and they get all freaked out afterwards and I just tried to pacify it by saying back: 'I was really drunk and don't remember it.'" A short time after this, Corporal Wilkinson was investigated over some peptides he bought from an Australian company and that he says were bought legally for his own use to help him recover from the neck injury. He suspected the investigation was only launched after his sexual preference became widely known.

He also believed the president of the Gratwick Club had since been unfairly stood down over the barmaids incident. He believed the president had been given the all-clear by senior officers for the barmaids to return but, because it was not put in writing, it was the president who was taking the fall. By speaking out, he said he wanted to stop the military from "screwing over another great soldier and to try and start the ball rolling on fixing a broken leadership system [which is] willing to manipulate and lie to get rid of those they don't like". On Friday, the soldier who allegedly sent the texts to Corporal Wilkinson said he did not wish to comment. And a Defence spokesman said Defence was unable to comment as an inquiry was being conducted into the allegations "many of which had previously not been reported to the chain of command".

"Defence maintains its commitment to an inclusive and diverse workplace and does not investigate matters based on a member's sexual orientation," said the spokesman. "All allegations of inappropriate or unacceptable behaviour are taken seriously and investigated."