Sex offence trials in the military go up by 70%

THE number of soldiers and sailors appearing on sex offence charges at a military court has risen by 70 per cent – as top brass seek to stamp out abuse.

Cases have included sickening abuse of vulnerable women in the services, often by male personnel in positions of authority.

The trials took place at Bulford military court in Wiltshire which handles sex offences committed in the Army and the Royal Navy.

In 2022, the court heard 55 separate cases for soldiers and sailors charged with offences such as sexual assault, up from 32 the previous year, according to an independent analysis.

In the same period, the numbers of Army and Navy personnel found guilty of such offences went up by nearly 50 per cent. In 2022, 29 troops were convicted of

‘Victims not getting justice’

either rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment or other sexual offences – up from 20 in 2021.

Most of those found guilty were junior ranks. But senior and highly experienced officers also appeared before a military judge at Bulford last year.

In separate cases an Army major repeatedly groped a colleague’s bottom and a Navy lieutenant commander slapped a female officer’s bottom and told colleagues ‘this one is beautiful’.

Both men apologised after being found guilty of disgraceful conduct and were permitted to remain in service. In each case, the officers had been drinking heavily at military functions

The figures have emerged as sexual misconduct scandals continue to engulf the Armed Forces, including the Red Arrows and Submarine Service.

Last night campaigner Philip Ingram said: ‘The steep rise in cases heard at Bulford in such a short time frame smacks of panic by military police, prosecutors and judges.

‘They will be patting themselves on the back for getting so many cases to court, but the poor quality of investigations means serious sexual misdemeanours will still be covered up... Many victims are still not getting justice. Two independent studies have concluded military police and military courts should not be handling these cases, it should be the civilian police and the civilian courts.’

The Ministry of Defence did not respond to a request for comment.