Four Royal Marines on trial for assault and indecency

FOUR Royal Marines are to face trial over serious assault and indecency allegations.

They appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court in connection with offences said to have taken place at De Vitos nightclub in Arbroath, Angus, last October.

Thomas Colclough, 27, of Derby; Ben Webster, 32, from Flintshire, North Wales; Jack Teare, 22, of Epsom; and Leon Salter, 29, from Hull all deny assaulting a bouncer in the course of his employment at the nightclub on October 12 last year.

The charge says they attempted to punch him on the head, repeatedly punched him and kicked him on the head and body and bit him on the ear.

The four men, understood to be based at Arbroath’s 45

‘Punched him and kicked him’

Commando base, also deny assaulting another staff member by repeatedly punching and kicking him on the head and body and biting him on the body.

Webster is further charged with committing an offence of public indecency by exposing himself to other members of the public while on the dance floor.

He has also denied assaulting a man by slapping him on the head and repeatedly punching him on the head.

Salter is further accused of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by refusing to leave the premises when asked to do so and engaging in a struggle with door staff.

Solicitor Nick Markowski, for Colclough, said: ‘There have been delays because they have been away on exercise in Estonia and are now on summer leave.’

Sheriff Gregor Murray set a trial date for August 19 and continued bail.