RAF policeman sacked after slapping female colleague's bottom

An RAF policeman has been dismissed after slapping a female colleague on her bottom so hard she had to check for bruises.

Air Specialist Jonathan Wood was 'showing off' in a bar when he struck the woman on the behind as she walked past him, a court martial has heard.

He has now been dismissed from the military after pleading guilty to three counts of disgraceful conduct of an incident kind. 

In two other incidents the 23-year-old, who was based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, touched other women in a 'flirtatious' way whilst on drunken nights out.

Sentencing AS1 Wood at Bulford Military Court, Wiltshire, Assistant Judge Advocate General Andrew Smith said 'unwanted touching' of women is a 'problem across all the armed forces' and described slap as 'an attempt to humiliate' the victim'.

'Your intention was to be flirtatious, you did not pick up the signs she was not interested

'You were showing off to the other people with whom you were drinking.

'The explanation you put forward was you did it out of the blue, you thought it was appropriate to slap her hard on the buttocks.

'It was not pre-planned but this was not a sexual entreaty that was misunderstood but an attempt to humiliate her.'

He continued: 'Unwanted touching of females is a problem across all the armed forces, there is a zero tolerance policy.

'Taking account of your age and service people being held to higher standards, and service police in particular, we regret to inform you that this is so serious that dismissal is the only option.'

Army Captain Ciaran Rafferty, prosecuting, described the three offences of 'unwanted touching' carried out by the RAF policeman against his victims, none of whom can be named for legal reasons.

He said one took place during a 'social drinking session' when he touched the thigh and leg area of a female colleague 'despite her never giving an indication she was receptive'.

Of the slapping incident - which took place on a night out several years later - Capt Rafferty said: 'The slap was of the level she needed to check for bruising.

'He said he slapped her on behalf of a friend who had a crush on her.'

The final incident took place in Canada, Capt Rafferty said, when AS1 Wood placed his hand on the leg and the back of another female colleague and she said no.

The woman challenged him the next day and he did apologise, the court heard.

Capt Rafferty said AS1 Wood was in a 'position of trust and responsibility' as a military policeman.

He said: 'These actions were intentional, he did them of his own volition and they were indecent.

'This caused some level of distress and harm to the victims.

'The biggest [aggravating factor] is the position of responsibility and trust the defendant was in, he was a member of military police staff.

'It is not unreasonable to expect a higher level of conduct from the police. Common to all three offences is the presence of alcohol.'

Capt Rafferty also read statements from two of AS1 Wood's victims who said they were 'angry' and feared he would do the same to others.

The woman he slapped on the bottom said: 'Almost 18 months ago I was put in a tenuous position, this resulted in a police investigation.'

She said she did not want to participate at first but later changed her mind.

She said: 'I realised I had a moral and professional duty to assist because he is RAF police.

'I believe he should be held to a higher standard. I found it degrading.

'I have had time to reflect and I am extremely angry.'

The woman he 'unwantedly touched' in Canada added: 'I believe I am quite resilient but this affected how I felt, it left me worrying this could happen to someone else.'

Nick Saunders, defending, said AS1 Wood had stopped drinking spirits since his actions came to light, recognising his problematic relationship with alcohol.

'He was part of the police unit, AS1 Wood accepts higher standards are expected of him, he is disappointed in his own behaviour,' Mr Saunders added.

'The strongest mitigation is his young age, he is only 23 now and at the time of the first offence he was only 19.

'He realises there is an emotional impact on these women, he realises this may impact them longer term.

'He has shown insight into his behaviour, part of that is recognising a problematic relationship with alcohol, alcohol plainly played a big part in these offences.

'He no longer drinks spirits and rarely drinks to excess.'

As well as dismissal he was sentenced to a 12 month community service order with 15 rehabilitation days.