The Daily Telegraph

Navy discipline in the dock over punch-up on ‘Pickle Night’

Judge criticises delays in HMS Queen Elizabeth case, saying carrier pigeon would have been quicker

- By Daily Telegraph Reporter

THE Royal Navy’s flagship has been criticised by a judge over a “Pickle Night” punch-up during its first operationa­l deployment.

Chief Petty Officer Michael Smith, 48, punched Leading Aircraft Engineerin­g Technician Jordan Street as sailors commemorat­ed the Battle of Trafalgar victory and the death of Lord Viceadmira­l Nelson.

“Pickle Night”, celebrated only by senior ratings and warrant officers, sees participan­ts traditiona­lly wearing 1805 Navy uniform, eating everything out of one bowl, drinking rum and singing sea shanties.

LAET Street, who had been working behind the bar at the event, had been invited to stay and socialise after the evening had finished.

CPO Smith, who has been in the Navy for 22 years, claimed LAET Street was drunk and not supposed to be in the senior sailor’s mess.

Commander Matthew Rees, prosecutin­g, said: “CPO Smith and LAET Street had a discussion in which he told LAET Street it was time for him to go. Later in the night, an argument took place which led to CPO Smith punching LAET Street while he lay on the floor.”

A judge at a military court criticised the disciplina­ry procedures on board HMS Queen Elizabeth after the case was delayed by 11 months, saying “it would have been quicker to send a carrier pigeon”.

Jane England, Assistant Judge Advocate, described processes on board the £3.1 billion aircraft carrier as “unacceptab­le” and delays in the case coming to court martial as “lamentable”.

LAET Street was kicked out and assaulted by CPO Smith, who saw he was drunk and chatting in an “animated” way to senior ratings and intervened.

CPO Smith had been demoted as a result of the incident, with the 11-month delay in proceeding­s a “mitigating’ factor” in his successful appeal, Judge England said.

Sitting at Bulford Military Court, Wilts, on Wednesday, she said: “The ship must review the way it deals with summary hearings.

“The delay is lamentable.

“It was hanging over both you and LAET Street for 11 months which is unacceptab­le.

“Despite the communicat­ions problems the ship was experienci­ng, the delay was due to poor administra­tion by your ship, it would have been quicker to send a carrier pigeon.”

Describing the incident, Cdr Rees

‘An argument took place which led to CPO Smith punching LAET Street while he lay on the floor’

said: “A witness saw CPO Smith on top of LAET Street. LAET Street did not throw a punch back. The day after, CPO Smith met with LAET Street in person to apologise.

“LAET Street suffered a dental abrasion to the right hand side of his mouth. He suffered an injury to his left eye and right upper lip.”

In a victim impact statement read to the court, LAET Street said the incident left him struggling to sleep.

LAET Smith, who has served 12 years in the Navy, and is married with children, said: “I am struggling to sleep... and the attack has left me questionin­g if I should continue my career.”

The decision to demote CPO Smith in rank was overturned, and he will instead be severely reprimande­d and ordered pay a fine of £1,800.

He will retain his current rank.

 ?? ?? Chief Petty Officer Michael Smith was reprimande­d for the attack and fined £1,800 at Bulford Military Court
Chief Petty Officer Michael Smith was reprimande­d for the attack and fined £1,800 at Bulford Military Court

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