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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

US fighter pilot avoids British trial after strangling & sexually assaulting a woman

13 replies

ListenToAlfDubs · 26/06/2026 11:35

Heard about this on the radio and couldn't see a thread here: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/ng-interactive/2026/jun/25/us-fighter-pilot-strangled-woman-england-why-military-trial
I knew about the US fiefdom's in the UK, but this so shocking. The woman in the case was raped and strangled - and the UK legal system did nothing. And we only knew about it because of one journalist who went to the 'trial'.

‘Degrading’: why did a US fighter pilot avoid British trial after strangling a woman in England?

Jacob Wulfson’s fellow airmen decided his fate after a court martial at RAF Lakenheath – a distressing week for Sarah Steele, the academic he assaulted

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/ng-interactive/2026/jun/25/us-fighter-pilot-strangled-woman-england-why-military-trial

OP posts:
SkippitySkoppity · 26/06/2026 11:39

I read this article yesterday and felt furious on the victim's behalf at the way this US military court was able to hush everything up but also so pleased for her that this article has been written, and from now on any time that rapist's name is googled this article detailing his crime will appear.

Does make you wonder how many other US military men stationed in the UK have done similar and got away with it.

MrsTomRipley · 26/06/2026 11:41

I couldn't even read all that - because it's so sickening.

WorkingItOutAsIGo · 26/06/2026 11:52

I think we should use Jacob Wulfson's name as much as possible online, since he has been convicted of assaulting a woman he should be known for that.

Ereshkigalangcleg · 26/06/2026 14:05

That’s awful. And only six months of any kind of detention.

TheWildZebra · 26/06/2026 14:07

Awful!! The trial sounded Kafkaesque and totally traumatic for the poor lady.

Treaclewell · 26/06/2026 15:09

I read this this morning and nearly exploded. The Guardian has several pieces expanding on the situation and why the US military persists in regarding our justice system as somehow inferior to theirs.
Their choice of victim in this case has exposed them to a reasoned criticism from a PhD in the very subject of crimes against women and children, who has expertise in court procedures more fitting than a court martial with a jury selected by the accused.
I shall wait to write appropriately till Tony Hancock ceases to cry "did magna Carta die in vain?" in my internal ear, though she obviously did.
I was born before 1951, so if a US serving person impacts me in any way, I shall claim loudly that the legal twist they apply does not have my consent. A British crime on British soil, harming a British person needs British law.
I notice that Wulfram has been expelled from the air force, so none of the respect afforded to uniform.

lcakethereforeIam · 26/06/2026 16:16

It's not a given that he'll be dismissed

Wulfson’s case will now be automatically reviewed by an air force appeals court at a military base in Maryland, that can re-examine the case’s facts and evidence.

Although the wording is unclear. Is it possible he'll be handed a harsher sentence?

Treaclewell · 26/06/2026 18:30

And will the victim be able to attend the review? With legal support from British experts?
or is this a veiwing of us as a third world justice system and under American control so that not only events on base are dealt with by them but any of our soil that happens to have a pair of US boots on it is automatically US territory?

Marycontrarygarden · 26/06/2026 18:32

Listen to the victim speak on the Guardian podcast. Awful verdict.

WilliamsandWatsonTooLateNSoul · 26/06/2026 18:43

Oh but the special relationship between US &UK.
Aye that only goes one way!
As pp disgusting verdict.

ouchynose · 26/06/2026 19:04

This is fucking awful. How can these be legal?

SilenceInside · 26/06/2026 19:06

This makes me more angry than I can possibly bear to say.

Faced with a UK criminal court the sentence this man would have received would have been significant and the likelihood is he would have been convicted of the offences he was found not guilty of by the jury of his mates.

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