Officer is acquitted of sexual assault of sailor on flagship

A “DRUNKEN” female sailor aboard the Royal Navy’s flagship was accused of groping her colleague who had become “jealous” of her relationship with another crew member, a court martial heard.

Petty Officer Christina Reaney was said to have asked the alleged victim, “How do you let someone know that you had a sex dream about them?”, after climbing into her bunk and fondling her breast. PO Reaney, of the Royal Navy Police, had been drinking brandy in the mess of HMS Queen Elizabeth before the alleged sexual assault.

The alleged victim told the court that minutes before the incident she had found PO Reaney “naked” in bed with a third female sailor. The petty officer denied the assault took place, claiming the alleged victim was “jealous” about her friendship with the third woman, as she had previously left a note inviting her to “spoon her into oblivion”.

The alleged victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, admitted she had a “crush” on the third sailor but insisted she was not making up allegations. A panel of five Royal Navy judges deliberated for just 25 minutes before acquitting PO Reaney of sexual assault.