A FALKLANDS veteran who was kicked out of the Royal Navy because of his sexuality is to have a medal he was stripped of returned to him.

Joe Ousalice, 68, had the gong for long service and good conduct confiscated when he was discharged after revealing his bisexuality before a court martial in 1993. He took the Ministry of Defence to court to get it back.

Mr Ousalice was ‘treated in a way that would not be acceptable today’ and the medal will be returned to him in person, said an MoD spokesman.

He added: ‘We accept our policy in respect of serving homosexuals in the military was wrong, discriminatory and unjust to the individuals involved.’

Gay people were not allowed to serve in the military until a rule change in 2000. Mr Ousalice, of Southampton, had an 18-year naval career. He is a former radio operator who served in the Falklands War and the Middle East and had six tours of Northern Ireland.

He said: ‘I should have always been judged on the basis of my exceptional service and not my sexuality.’

Instead, he said he was ‘made to feel like he was disgusting’ and the medal was cut off him at the court martial, where he was cleared over accusations he was in bed with another sailor.

‘It has taken me 27 years to resolve this,’ Mr Ousalice said. ‘But I would like to acknowledge the apology finally offered to me today and urge the MoD to continue to do all it can to address the continuing and serious effects of its discrimination on LGBT veterans.’

It is understood the MoD is setting up a scheme to return medals to others.