Marines Jailed for Breaking Recruit's Cheekbone After Seeing Him Annoy a Woman at Bar

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 Eathen Bradley-Moor, 22, Shaun Joash, 25, Lucas Johnson, 22, and Ben O'Callaghan, 23, who were all recruits at the time.

The court heard that the four men attacked Recruit Anton Mills after witnessing him being "drunk and annoying" and "squeezing a woman's neck." They reportedly punched and kicked him, and even stamped on him when he fell to the ground during the altercation at The Botanist bar.

Prosecutor Colonel Neil Keery described how Rct Mills had been drinking most of the day and approached a friend of his ex-girlfriend. He was talking about a holiday she was organizing, and the four defendants did not know he had a connection to her. According to the prosecution, Rct Mills was drunk and persistent, squeezing the woman’s neck, which was not welcomed by her.

At this point, Bradley-Moor and Johnson 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 O’Callaghan and Joash joining in from across the bar. All four were involved, punching Rct Mills onto the floor and continuing to strike him while he was down.

Bystanders attempted to intervene, and security was called to defuse the situation. However, by then, Rct Mills had suffered a fractured cheekbone in three places.

The four Marines were interviewed by service police but did not initially admit to the full extent of the fight. In a victim statement read to the court, Rct Mills described the impact of the assault on his training and morale. He said he was unable to continue with his training and was placed in a unit for injured recruits. He also mentioned that he now constantly checks his surroundings, especially when out or drinking.

Despite the incident, all four Marines have since advanced in rank and are now serving in non-combat roles. Lieutenant Commander Andrew Pandyan, representing three of the accused, argued that the attack was spontaneous and resulted from fatigue and stress after a week-long training exercise. He emphasized that the men had no prior disciplinary issues and that the incident was a loss of control rather than a premeditated act.

Judge Advocate General Alan Large acknowledged the severity of the assault, noting that the four men were jointly responsible for fracturing Rct Mills’ cheekbone. While he recognized their positive references and potential for successful careers, he stated that dismissal from service was not necessary. Instead, he opted for service detention as a more appropriate form of justice.

The four Marines have also been ordered to pay £750 in compensation to Rct Mills. The case highlights the challenges of maintaining discipline and cohesion within military units, particularly when alcohol is involved. It serves as a reminder of the importance of accountability and the consequences of violent behavior, even among those trained to uphold discipline and order.