Father, 43, who died when he detonated the explosive vest he was wearing as he left his ex-partner’s Melbourne home ‘was kicked out of the army after bashing a superior who RAPED him’
- A friend of Clent Wilson, 43, believes the ex-soldier’s suicide was preventable
- He revealed a traumatic event during Mr Wilson’s service may have been trigger
- The father of three, had served in 2nd Cavalry Regiment based at Darwin
- Mr Wilson died last month in Melbourne wearing an explosive vest he made
A friend of a former Australian soldier who died wearing an explosive vest has revealed he was allegedly raped during his time in the armed forces.
Clent Wilson, 43, blew himself up on a Melbourne street on January 22 following struggles with mental health and drug addiction after serving in the Australian Army.
Mr Wilson, a father of three, had served in 2nd Cavalry Regiment based at Darwin’s Robertson barracks and was known as a ‘crazy f**ker’ before being dishonourably discharged from the military 20 years ago.
A friend of a former Australian soldier who died wearing an explosive vest (Clent Wilson, 43, pictured) has revealed he was allegedly raped during his service
Mr Wilson blew himself up on a Melbourne street on January 22 (pictured) following struggles with mental health and drug addiction after serving in the Australian Army
He told a close friend that he had beaten a superior who raped him and was discharged as a result.
The unidentified mate said Mr Wilson told him the story while ‘crying in his shed’ and believes the alleged sexual assault was a turning point that sent him down a dark path.
In 2009 Mr Wilson separated from his wife and began his struggle with mental illness and drug addiction.
His friend said Mr Wilson mainly used ice but would ‘take anything’.
As his situation escalated the military veteran had several run-ins with the law in recent years and it is alleged he even attempted to shoot his estranged father, Tony Wilson.
However, Mr Wilson’s friend said the ex-soldier had been a happy man before joining the ADF and believes it was his time in the army that sent him spiralling.
Mr Wilson (pictured) allegedly told a close friend that he had beaten a superior that raped him and was discharged as punishment
‘With the right things in place and the right systems in place, he probably would never have ended up the way he was,’ he told the Herald Sun.
Mr Wilson was known by friends as a miracle mechanic who could fix anything and make complicated inventions out of scraps.
‘If he couldn’t fix it, nobody could,’ his friend said.
On Saturday January 22 at 11.40am a car driving down Nettle Drive in Hallam, east Melbourne, exploded and killed Mr Wilson as he drove.
He had been wearing an explosive vest he made out of vehicle airbags which blew up as he drove over a speed bump.
Mr Wilson (pictured) in 2009 separated from his wife and began his struggle with mental illness and drug addiction
The blast blew out the car’s sunroof and windscreen but didn’t cause any major structural damage.
Shortly before the incident Mr Wilson had visited his on-off girlfriend in neighbouring Dandenong.
Mr Wilson’s friend said that despite his struggles in life, he was ‘one of the best people you’d ever meet’.
It is not known whether Mr Wilson ever reported his rape to the Australian Army.
The ADF has not confirmed if he was a member.
His death is now being investigated by the Victorian Coroner and the Royal Commission into Defence and Veterans’ Suicide.
The Australian Defence Force has not confirmed if Mr Wilson (pictured) was a member
Lifeline: 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 or beyondblue.org.au
Defence All-Hours Support Line provides support for ADF personnel on 1800 628 036 or defence.gov.au/health/healthportal.
Defence Member and Family Helpline provides support for Defence families on 1800 624 608.
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