Serviceman 'attacked colleague after he asked him to slow boat down'

A Royal Marine in an elite unit attacked a junior colleague for asking him to slow down while driving a boat at top speed, a court martial heard.

Lance Corporal Tristan Lawson lost his temper and punched the junior Commando 'multiple times' after he criticised him for piloting the vessel in such a way that passengers were getting 'smashed around'.

After being told this, LCpl Lawson told the colleague to 'shut the f*** up', at which his colleague, only named as Marine Macefield told him 'Learn to drive' leading to burly Commando driving 'aggressively' unto a beach.

Once there, the serviceman, who had been in the Marines for five years and who had only been promoted the month before, marched to his frightened colleague before punching him multiple times in the face while screaming 'Tell me how to drive the boat now'.

The two men belong to 30 Commando Information Exploitation Group, a specialist intelligence gathering unit known as the 'eyes and ears' of their brigade. 

The unit was formed during the Second World War and was instrumental in stealing top secret German technology including the Enigma machine. 

LCpl Lawson has now been handed a suspended sentence and demoted after admitting to one count of battery.

Mne Macefield was left with a bruised eye, facial swelling and a concussion following the brutal attack and required medical attention.

Bulford Military Court heard the incident took place while out on an exercise in January this year involving swimmers and a speed boat during which South African LCpl Lawson was piloting the vessel at top speed.

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Mne Macefield was one of the passengers onboard and the court heard how they were being 'jolted around and feeling uncomfortable', Prosecutor Squadron Leader Luke Ainsworth

Mne Macefield said 'Mate, please can you slow the boat down?', to which LCpl Lawson replied 'Shut the f*** up, get out of my way', the court heard.

The marine then said: 'This is ridiculous, we're getting smashed around here, learn to drive the boat.'

A third colleague, identified as Lance Corporal Kinneard, then took control of the steering of the boat, and LCpl Lawson 'lunged' at Mne Macefield.

Sqn Ldr Ainsworth said: 'LCpl Lawson took back control of the steering wheel and said 'Wait until we're back at the beach, I'm going to injure you'.'

He made a similar threat five minutes later, and Mne Macefield responded 'This wouldn't have happened if you knew how to drive the boat'.

'LCpl Lawson then aggressively drove the boat onto the beach,' Sqn Ldr Ainsworth said.

LCpl Lawson walked around the boat and approached Mne Macefield, who he asked 'Are you going to tell me how to drive the boat now?', leaing Mne Macefield to 'fear[ing] for his safety'.

Mne Macefield then pushed LCpl Lawson with both hands, telling him to leave him alone, before LCpl Lawson then grabbed him and punched him in the face leading him to fly backwards into the boat.

He punched the colleague multiple times saying 'I'm going to kill you, you English c***. Tell me how to drive the boat now', the court heard, before fellow commandos pulled him off.

At the time, LCpl Lawson argued he acted in 'self defence' after being tormented and 'wound up'.

On why he continued to attack Mne Macefield after he fell, LCpl Lawson said: 'I couldn't control that, I just thought 'I'm going to hit you now'.'

Sqn Ldr Ainsworth told the court: 'It was a pre-meditated act on the basis that LCpl Lawson was waiting to get to the beach to conduct an attack.'

In a victim impact statement read out in court, Mne Macefield said he feels anxious and has struggled to sleep following the assault.

Offering mitigation, Benjamin Hale, told the court that LCpl Lawson accepts that what he did was wrong.

Mr Hale said: 'This incident was a momentary lapse in an otherwise unblemished career to date.'

Sentencing LCpl Lawson, Assistant Judge Advocate General John Atwill said: 'You let your anger get the better of you, you took it out on a junior marine.

'Whether or not you thought he had been disrespectful to you makes no difference, you were all tired and cold.'

Judge Advocate Atwill said that LCpl Lawson's actions were 'serious and dangerous'.

The judge added: 'You are very fortunate that he wasn't seriously injured.'

LCpl Lawson was demoted to the rank of Marine and sentenced to 28 days detention, suspended for 12 months.

He must pay a service compensation order of £300.