Royal Marines Sentenced for Assault on Fellow Recruit
Four Royal Marines have been sentenced to eight months of service detention after being found guilty of assaulting a fellow recruit at a bar in Exeter. The incident, which occurred in July last year, involved the four men fracturing the cheekbone of Recruit Anton Mills.
The individuals involved are Eathen Bradley-Moor, 22, Shaun Joash, 25, Lucas Johnson, 22, and Ben O'Callaghan, 23. All were recruits stationed at the Commando Training Centre in Lympstone, Devon, at the time of the incident. They were part of the 377 Troop, while Rct Mills was part of the 382 Troop.
The court heard that the assault took place at The Botanist bar in Exeter. According to the prosecution, Rct Mills had been drinking most of the day and approached a friend of his ex-girlfriend. He was described as "drunk and annoying" and even squeezed the woman's neck during the encounter.
Prosecutor Colonel Neil Keery stated that the four defendants did not know Rct Mills was familiar with the woman. He added that even on the prosecution's case, Rct Mills was drunk and acting in a manner that was unwelcome.
Bradley-Moor and Johnson reportedly started an altercation, leading to the assault. Bradley-Moor pushed Rct Mills over, and another recruit encouraged him to leave, but he refused. This led to a more serious assault, with all four men involved.
O'Callaghan and Joash joined the attack from across the bar. They punched Rct Mills onto the floor, where Johnson and O'Callaghan continued to punch and attempt kicks or stamps against him. Bystanders tried to intervene, and security was called to defuse the situation.
At this point, Rct Mills suffered a fractured cheekbone in three places. The court heard that the four men were interviewed by service police but did not admit to the full extent of the violence.
In a victim statement read to the court, Rct Mills expressed how the incident affected his training and morale. He was unable to continue with his troop and was placed in a different group for injured recruits. He mentioned that he now checks his surroundings more carefully, especially when out or after drinking.
Rct Mills also reflected on his decision to join the Royal Marines, stating that he questioned whether he should have made that choice.
Despite the incident, all four men have since advanced in rank and are now serving as Marines. However, they have been assigned to non-combat roles since the event.
Lieutenant Commander Andrew Pandyan, defending three of the men, highlighted that they had recently returned from a week-long training exercise, which may have contributed to their fatigue and stress. He argued that the incident was spontaneous and lacked premeditation.
Judge Advocate General Alan Large addressed the four men during sentencing, emphasizing their responsibility for the assault. He noted that none of them had prior issues but acknowledged their positive references and potential for successful careers if they remained in service.
Large stated that while unlawful violence can harm unit cohesion, dismissal was not deemed necessary in this case. Instead, service detention was considered more appropriate than a prison sentence.
The four men have also been ordered to pay £750 in compensation to Rct Mills.
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