RAF Sergeant convicted of disgraceful conduct

An RAF Sergeant has been convicted of disgraceful conduct of an indecent kind after grabbing the breast of a female colleague at a military ball.

In a drunken state, Sergeant William Wilton was convinced the colleague was a 'geezer in a dress', lunging towards the woman and shouting 'these aren't real'. 

Appearing before Buldford Military Court, Sgt. Wilton's defence centred around his belief that the victim, who was of slim build with short hair, was a junior rank man 'disrespecting' the event by wearing a gown.

The 'bizarre' altercation escalated when an 'aggressive' Sgt. Wilton 'cupped and squeezed' his colleague's chest despite her insistence that she was female. 

The court martial heard that the victim had been in fact wearing the gown due to a recent promotion and had not yet received her new correct dress uniform.

Described as a 'ghastly misjudgement', the court heard how a drunk Sgt. Wilton demanded to know why his colleague was 'dressed like that'.

Initially walking away from the argument, Sgt. Wilton then returned to argue with the woman's boyfriend before he reached past him and grabbed her breast. 

Sgt. Wilton holds over two decades of military experience, including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, but has now been served with a suspended sentence and fine for his 'aggressive' actions.

Speaking at the sentencing, Assistant Judge Advocate Jane England told the court that Sgt. Wilton's behaviour was 'boorish', adding that it was 'not his place' to 'bully' someone for how they expressed themselves.

Judge England continued; 'She had told you she was female, you chose to disbelieve and ignore her, you chose to continue pushing your views on her.

'We have no doubt this has caused a great deal of harm to the victim, you caused her to question her very identity'.

The incident, which was described at the sentencing by Prosecutor Lieutenant Commander Andy Ramage as 'bizarre', occurred at the RAF Brize Norton air base.

Lt. Com. Ramage told the court how both the victim and her boyfriend 'just wanted to be left alone', before reading an impact statement from the female victim.

It read; 'After the incident I had mixed emotions, I asked had it really happened, had I made myself a target?

'Somehow someone had invaded my personal space, a small part of me was angry and annoyed.

'I have considered if changing my appearance would help but that would mean not being true to myself.

'Afterwards I did not feel safe leaving my room, I have not been to another mess function or eaten in there.

'I have begun to dislike my own company as my thoughts circle back to the event'.

In Sgt. Wilton's defence before the court martial, Matthew Bolt, mitigating, stated that the veteran 'truly believed' the victim was a junior rank officer mocking the event. 

'He did in that moment truly believe that this was a male in a dress, not a woman or trans woman but a junior rank behaving disrespectfully.

'It was utterly out of character. Mr. Wilton accepts that he needs to be punished for this. He only asks it is done in a way that the next several years of his life do not become all about that one ghastly misjudgement,' the court heard. 

Sgt. Wilton's solicitor Wing Commander Allan Steele commented that his client was proud to have served the British military for over 20 years, but was deeply regretful of his poor judgement and for any upset he has caused to the victim.

He concluded by saying that Sgt. Wilton is now looking to move on and enjoy his post-RAF career with his family.

Sgt. Wilton was ultimately handed a 26-week detention sentence, suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to pay a £1,000 fine and an additional £1,000 in victim compensation.

He has been medically discharged from the RAF since this incident for unrelated health reasons.