A BOURNEMOUTH woman has paid tribute to the “bubbly, strong minded” sister who hanged herself while serving with the army.

Sharon Hardy said her sister Corporal Anne-Marie Ellement was a “shadow of her former self” after previously alleging rape against two other soldiers in Germany.

She believes the Royal Military Police failed in their duty of care towards her sister and Sharon is seeking answers after Friday’s inquest.

Salisbury Coroners Court heard Anne-Marie, 30, a former door supervisor who grew up in Christchurch and Muscliff, killed herself after feeling “belittled” at work and then discovering her ex-boyfriend had a new partner.

Sharon said Anne-Marie never got over the trauma of the incident in Germany but tried to stay positive despite “being made out to be a liar” by other soldiers.

Sharon told the Echo: “Before joining the Military Police in 2006 Anne-Marie was a confident, happy young lady with hopes and dreams for the future.

“She would always try to see the good in people and would always help anyone in need.

“She was very chatty and bubbly, strong minded and never scared to share her opinion.

“If any relationship ended she would bounce back and move on.

“There’s no way she could jeopardise her career by lying.”

Anne-Marie studied at St Josephs and The Grange in Somerford, St Peters in Bournemouth, and Bournemouth and Poole College, before joining the army in 2006.

The inquest heard that after making the rape allegation Anne-Marie was transferred from Germany to Bulford.

The coroner was told Anne-Marie was working 80-hours shortly before her death and felt she could “do no right” under her sergeant.

Assistant Deputy Coroner Ian Singleton said Anne-Marie took her own life after the relationship news proved the “final straw” on top of other pressures.

Captain Sean Kimber, who was second in command in Bulford, told the inquest he believed she chose to work extra hours out of a sense of duty.

He said she had found a new role there challenging.

He said he arranged for a week’s sick leave, moved her to a new platoon, and personally checked into her application to join the veterinary corps.

Sharon, from Muscliff, is now considering how to seek answers.

She said Anne-Marie had been bullied even at her first posting in Northern Ireland.

She said: “Were the chain of command even aware to the extent she was suffering from depression?

“I have complete admiration for the armed forces but if she was failed I expect the people accountable to be held responsible.”