Paras’ mission axed over orgy

THE head of the Army has grounded a battalion after some soldiers were involved in an orgy at their barracks.

The extraordinary move means 3 Para will no longer take part in a Nato mission to the Balkans later this year.

General Sir Patrick Sanders said he was ‘not prepared to risk the mission or the reputation of the British Army by deploying 3 Para at this time’.

His decision came after a sex tape emerged of 3 Para soldiers and a woman taking part in an orgy at a barracks in Colchester, Essex. No criminal offences were committed and a military police investigation confirmed that the participants had consented to the activities.

Gen Sanders, Chief of the General Staff, said the actions contravened the Army’s values and standards policy. In a letter to 3 Para’s commander, he wrote: ‘Such behaviour is unacceptable.’

Last night senior paratroopers vented their fury over the decision. One said: ‘So every time anyone from any regiment does anything General Sanders doesn’t approve of he’ll cut them from their next deployment? That’s a very high bar.’