A FORMER Army major whose career and sex life were ruined by a botched operation was awarded more than £330,000 in damages yesterday.

Richard Morgan (pictured), 39, of Undy near Magor, took his case against the Ministry of Defence to the High Court, asking for damages of between £500,000 and £650,000.

Mr Morgan suffered sciatic nerve damage during a botched back operation by Army surgeons in July 1997.

That left him unable to have a proper sex life.

The court heard that he has needed to use Viagra since the operation, and may eventually need to have an implant.

Mr Morgan, who Deputy High Court Judge Andrew Collender, QC, said had been "a star of inter services rugby" was also left with little or no feeling or movement in his right leg below the knee.

The Ministry of Defence admitted liability for his injuries, but argued that he was "£322,297 better off" in civvy street because he had secured a top IT job in Berkshire after leaving the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers on medical grounds.

He now earns more than £55,000 a year, the court heard. Yesterday, the MoD was ordered to pay Mr Morgan £336,723 damages plus his legal costs.

Judge Collender said: "The surgeon who carried out this operation did so incompetently. In some way he manipulated the nerves of the spine so as to cause permanent damage to Mr Morgan's nervous system especially affecting his right leg and groin area.

"His potency is affected and although it seems it is largely restored by Viagra, the need for him to increase doses of that drug is an ill portent for the future. I consider the loss of potency to be a very serious loss."

He added: "There is a fear that more radical means may be contemplated in the future if the Viagra ceases to help."

Julian Matthews for Mr Morgan earlier told the judge: "This had a significant and profound effect on his life. He was a professional soldier who joined the Army from school and rose quickly through the ranks. He had quite an excellent career profile."

Reading from a superior officer's report Mr Matthews said Mr Morgan was a "dedicated conscientious man and a totally responsible officer".