Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
News
Original poster

Serving soldier attacks a woman and escapes jail because of his job

63 replies

tungthai · 30/05/2013 18:33

Sorry can't link on this phone. www.swindonadvertiser/news/proudofyourselfsergeant

A soldier launches a vicious attack on a female in a nightclub. The judge said ordinarily he would face a prison sentence but because of his exemplary service in the Army he gets away with a conditional discharge.

What sort of message does this send out?

I for sure do not feel comfortable with someone like him patrolling the streets of Afghanistan.

OP posts:
Boomba · 31/05/2013 22:16

ooo...is it like Candyman candyman......i cant even type the 3rd one!

AudrinaAdare · 31/05/2013 23:35

Horrible story and yes I too remember that website and the disgusting violent misogyny Darkestseyes.

I can't believe that he didn't even bother to put in a defence - as if the cheek of the woman rejecting his advances was enough to warrant her punishment. I despair, I really do...

fromparistoberlin · 01/06/2013 08:24

is anyone here on twitter? cant we get so,meone a la sally c/caitlin moran to flag this? sounds silly but it really is fucked up, and needs more awareness

MrsBungle · 01/06/2013 08:37

What an absolute disgrace.

thenightsky · 01/06/2013 18:02

Amazed I've not seen this in the mainstream papers like The Sunday Times. What a truly shocking event Shock

scaevola · 01/06/2013 18:08

As he's acquired a criminal conviction, he should face administrative action from the Army now (or on return from Afghanistan) which can lead to a dishonourable discharge.

Previous good character, however evidenced, will always form part of someone's case and may be considered in sentencing. It happens to be military in this case, but it happens all the time and for all sorts of offences.

HappyJustToBe · 01/06/2013 18:13

There is quite a jump from prison to conditional discharge.

If he wanted to give him some credit for his job suspend a prison sentence. I don't think his job should have been mitigation myself but there are ways to take it into account without a ridiculous conditional discharge. Fuckwits.

Beachcomber · 01/06/2013 18:42

OMFG.

That is unbelievable. I know men get off with raping and beating women all the time because they are; sportsmen/film directors/bigwigs of some nature, but that story is a particularly sickening example of how Women Really Don't Count.

Poor woman. How hideous to not only have been assaulted and injured but then to have your attacker let off.

MardyBra · 03/06/2013 12:48

It's a fucking disgrace. Join the army - and get a free pass to attack women. Angry

boxershorts · 03/06/2013 14:42

yes it does happen; but I would wish to know details in individual cases

PuddingsAndPies · 03/06/2013 15:01

I'm glad his unblemished record of killing people didn't get in the way of a punishment for attacking a defenceless woman because she wouldn't sleep with him.

NiceTabard · 03/06/2013 20:32

How is it seen as a positive that this man is acting as a "father figure" for 30 (presumably younger) men?

WTAF?

Surely he is a terrible person to be influencing young men Confused

Also what's the difference between common assault and ABH/GBH? What he got done for sounds less than what he did somehow.

BasilBabyEater · 03/06/2013 21:31

I very much doubt that the malestream meeja will pick this up precisely because of what others have said: that the automatic "heroes" narrative that goes with being a member of the armed forces, must never be challenged.

There is total censorship on the issue of any bad behaviour by the military.

BasilBabyEater · 03/06/2013 21:33

Presumably if he'd raped her, his record of good conduct would also have been his get out jail free card.

FFS, what does this tell women?

That we'd better sleep with any military man who wants us to, otherwise he's entitled to beat us up?

Jesus.

MisForMumNotMaid · 03/06/2013 21:46

Does anyone know if the conditional discharge means his army career is over?

From the way the linked article is written its rather concerning that he's been in uniform on active operation since the attack.

I'm so sad that the women involved is concerned that her name is tainted by this. If I googled her as an employer and came across the article linked my impression would be she's strong with a stable family - only positive things.

NiceTabard · 03/06/2013 21:50

No I don't think his army career is over as he has gone back to afghanistan.

AuntieStella · 03/06/2013 22:02

He will face administrative action on his return (which could mean dismissal). This is pretty standard, otherwise every squaddie who didn't fancy seeing their tour out would assault someone during R&R.

edam · 03/06/2013 22:09

Good grief, what a fuckwit that magistrate is. Makes you wonder about his behaviour towards women if he thinks this is in some way excusable. The fact the thug was a serving soldier makes it worse, surely, not better - this guy is meant to be trained to control himself and to do display good conduct that reflects well on his regiment.

BasilBabyEater · 03/06/2013 22:16

Well quite.

It totally sets a precedent that women can just be assaulted for rebuffing a man's sexual advances and that there won't be any consequences at all for the man.

It's really scarey. The pretence that women have the protection of the law when it comes to male violence, is getting thinner and thinner.

LtEveDallas · 03/06/2013 22:18

He will have gone to Afghan because 1) He wasn't proved guilty until today so they couldn't stop him deploying and 2) As a Troop Sgt he will have a pivotal role that couldn't easily be replaced.

However, as soon as he comes back he will receive Admin Action, and a Conditional Discharge can be used by his CO to dismiss him for misconduct.

He won't be further punished by the Mil. But seeing as his discharge will mean the loss of his gratuity (approx £40K) and monthly immediate pension (approx £500/month) I think that's a pretty good result. He's only done 13 years so is pretty much a 'flier' that could have reached Warrant Rank or even commission, which would mean an awful lot more money.

I'd be pissed if he was one of mine - the magistrate is a fool. I would expect his Regt's Discipline Sgt had the paperwork to bin him ready for signature, and will tonight be cursing the justice system, but rest assured he won't get away with it Scott free. Hitting him in the pocket may not be as good as locking him up, but it's pretty painful.

BasilBabyEater · 03/06/2013 22:24

I think it may be better than locking him up.

I hope the military do discharge him, he's a bloody disgrace.

NiceTabard · 03/06/2013 22:52

Thing is none of that stuff means justice is "seen to be done" as none of that is in the papers and judging by the victim's reaction she doesn't know / doesn't see it as a punishment.

So basically the courts have handed it back to the army to deal with. That's a worrying way to do things IMO.

LtEveDallas · 03/06/2013 23:04

No I agree NiceTabard. I wish that poor lady did know what will happen to him, and get some satisfaction from knowing it. I expect she heard 'Conditional Discharge' and thought 'smack on the wrist'. That's wrong.

The judge is a fool - there are a lot of punishments he could have given that would have the same affect on the soldiers service - suspended sentence, community service etc. The victim would feel vindicated and the soldier would still be kicked out. Or at the very least the judge could have explained what a conditional discharge means in terms of military service. But TBH I think he just should have had some balls and locked the guy up.

munchkinmaster · 03/06/2013 23:41

I'm appalled. But to repeat the question asked earlier, why is it common assault not abh. I'm not sure about what a magistrate is either - as there was a chairman of the bench. Does this mean it was heard by a panel of three magistrates (ie lay people) rather than a local judge? What a messed up system!

WineNot · 04/06/2013 00:33

Pretty sure that a lot of people charged with common assault would have received a similar sentence (i.e. non custodial).