A decorated British Army sergeant stripped off and 'gyrated' at a female colleague after drinking a giant three and a half pint glass boot of booze as part of a traditional leaving ritual, a court martial heard. 'Lewd' Staff Sergeant Samuel Haseltine became 'completely and utterly drunk' after necking the full two-litre stein of alcohol in one while stood on a chair at a leaving bash thrown in his honour.
The 32 year old later took his clothes off, approached the female soldier - who was sober and the only woman at the party - and 'gyrated' his genitals 'inches' from her face. The married father, of 4 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps, apologised to the woman the following day after colleagues told him he had 'overstepped the line'.
He admitted one charge of disgraceful conduct and was said to be 'full of guilt' towards his 'humiliated' colleague. But Judge Advocate Edward Legard told the disgraced officer his actions would 'not be tolerated' in the Army and jailed him for six months for his 'appalling' actions.
Judge Legard said: "The behaviour that forms the basis of this charge represents an appalling example of gross misconduct. Let me make this absolutely clear: such behaviour should not and will not be tolerated in Her Majesty's Army.
"Moreover, incidents of this nature can cause serious reputational damage to the Armed Forces."
Bulford Military Court, Wilts, heard that the incident happened when SSgt Haseltine's unit threw him a 'leaving do' before he enrolled on an 18-month course that would take him from the rank of Corporal to that of Staff Sergeant. His Regiment, 4 Regt RLC, forms part of the 12 Armoured Brigade Combat Team which, on operations, is part of the Army's 3rd UK Warfighting Division.
The 3rd Division, based on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, is also known as The Iron Division and is the only division which retains continual operational readiness in the UK. During wartime, 4 Regt RLC provides ammunition, fuel and rations to front line units.
The court martial heard a group of fellow soldiers attended the bash for SSgt Haseltine at the unit bar of Rock Barracks at MoD Woodbridge in Suffolk - including senior officers and his commanding officer. The hearing was told his unit employ a tradition that those departing have to stand on a chair and drink a giant, two-litre 'glass boot' of alcohol in one.
David Richards, defending SSgt Haseltine, explained: "It was the tradition within that unit that those leaving would have a particular drink...A glass boot, two litres or thereabouts. A large stein filled with beer, spirits - whatever.
"The person leaving was required to stand up on a chair and down it in one. Corporal Haseltine, as he was then, went along with the tradition."
After necking the cocktail in front of his fellow soldiers, SSgt Haseltine drunkenly stripped off his clothes. Prosecuting, Captain Rebecca Slee said: "He took his clothes off so his genitals were exposed. He approached [his victim] from behind whilst she was sat on a sofa and proceeded to gyrate close to her right shoulder whilst others laughed.
"She left the room. This was a specific targeting of the only female in the room."
Mr Richards added that though SSgt Haseltine's 'crass' behaviour was inexcusable it had been a result of the boot-drinking tradition. "He was in drink as a result of the social pressure of the event," he argued.
"[SSgt Haseltine] is not a heavy drinker, and that's why he found himself, in the words of the victim, 'completely and utterly drunk'. The next day he had no recollection of the incident but was told by others what he had done.
"SSgt Haseltine approached [the victim] to apologise, but she didn't want to speak to him and sent him away. Later, his wife approached her and apologised on his behalf, and she accepted that apology.
"He was lewd and indecent, and [his actions] were clearly upsetting to [the victim], who was the only woman in the bar. It was an act of crass stupidity which was wholly out of character. One witness put it best, saying SSgt Haseltine 'overstepped the line'."
A statement by his victim that was read to the court stated she was 'disgusted' to have been 'singled out' as the only woman. She also said the incident justified this kind of behaviour to junior soldiers in the unit and taught them it was 'acceptable and normal'.
SSgt Haseltine - who has served in the army for nearly 15 years, boasts several medals of honour and has served one tour in Afghanistan - narrowly avoided a reduction in rank. However, he was sentenced to six months imprisonment at the Military Corrective Training Centre (MCTC) in Colchester, Essex.
Passing the sentence, Judge Advocate Legard said: "[The victim] was the only female present in the bar and she was sober. She was sitting on a sofa and was engaged in chatting. You, in a state of extreme inebriation, approached her from behind, exposed your genitals and gyrated inches away from her face.
"There was laughter and no doubt encouragement from others. It was a deeply humiliating and embarrassing incident for [the victim].
"This was an episode which had the potential to cause reputational damage to the Armed Forces and one that runs contrary to the modern Army."
