THE Lincolnshire-born first ever female commander of a Royal Navy warship has quit the service, national media have reported.
Commander Sarah West, whose parents are from Holton-le-Clay, was earlier this year removed from her post over an alleged affair with a junior officer.
Commander West, 42, took charge of Type 23 frigate HMS Portland in May 2012 but left the vessel in July amid claims she had a relationship with a Lieutenant Commander.
The divorced commanding officer was removed from her post but continued to serve in the Royal Navy in job based on-shore but now, just months after the allegations came to light, she has apparently handed in her notice.
A Royal Navy spokesman told Mail Online: "It's not the policy of the naval service to make public any individual, personal matters; it would be inappropriate to comment."
A source told The Sun: "Cdr West is one of the most talented anti-submarine specialists. Nothing can detract from the fact she was the first woman to captain a Royal Navy frigate."
In August, The Sun branded her a "Jolly Rogerer" in its front page coverage of the story, while the news featured heavily in BBC TV and radio bulletins throughout the day.
As reported, Cdr West's appointment to HMS Portland in May 2012, was the first of its kind.
At the time, she described it as the greatest achievement of her career.
However, the alleged affair breaches the Armed Forces' Code of Social Conduct which prohibits relationships between personnel if they compromise "operational effectiveness".
A Royal Navy spokesperson said at the time: "We can confirm that Commander Sarah West, Commanding Officer of HMS Portland, has been removed from command.
"This is an internal matter between the individual and her senior officers and we will not give further details of the removal.
Earlier this year, she spoke of how work commitments had got in the way of her love life.
She said: "I'm really proud to be the first woman but I'm not reinventing the wheel.
"There are drawbacks though. Years at sea probably explains why I'm single. But every person in the military makes sacrifices."
Born and raised in Lincolnshire, she went on to read maths at the University of Hertfordshire before joining Britannia Royal Naval College, in September, 1995.
