A Royal Navy sailor has been cleared of Grievous Bodily Harm charges after being accused of punching a female colleague and dragging her across a road.
Petty Officer James Brown was alleged to have delivered a “hard punch” to Leading Hand Gemma Brice and then dragged her along the road during a “melee” outside a Subway sandwich shop. The court martial was informed that LH Brice, who had attended a colleague’s leaving party, sustained concussion symptoms, a swollen eye, and PTSD as a result of the incident.
Petty Officer Brown, from HMS Clyde, was out celebrating a friend’s 30th birthday and did not know Leading Hand Brice before the brawl involving several sailors.
The panel at Bulford Military Court in Wiltshire deliberated for just under two hours before acquitting PO Brown of GBH today.
During the two-day trial, the court was presented with CCTV footage of the brawl in which Petty Officer Brown allegedly dragged Leading Hand Brice “along the road” amid a fracas involving a large group of sailors.
PO Brown claimed he was acting in self-defence during the altercation. Lieutenant Commander Andrew Ramage, prosecuting, explained to Bulford Military Court that the incident occurred outside a Subway shop in Portsmouth in the early hours of July 23, 2022.
Lt Cdr Ramage stated, “LH Brice sustained numerous physical injuries and suffered PTSD. The melee began when LH Brice knocked someone else’s glasses to the floor, creating tension within the group.”
He continued, “[CCTV] footage shows PO Brown initially trying to act as a peacemaker. At 3:18 AM, PO Brown pursues another sailor, and LH Brice approaches him with her arms out, leading to him throwing one hard punch.”
