A British Army staff sergeant has been court-martialled after organising a 3am ironing party for trainees under his command. The incident occurred at a military base in the UK, where the sergeant ordered junior soldiers to wake up and iron their uniforms in the middle of the night.
The court heard that the sergeant, who has not been named, was frustrated with the trainees' turnout and decided to impose the unusual punishment. The trainees were made to stand in their sleeping quarters and iron their clothing for over an hour.
The sergeant pleaded guilty to a charge of disgraceful conduct of an indecent kind. His actions were described by the judge as 'unnecessary and degrading'. He was fined £1,500 and reduced in rank.
The victim, a female trainee, stated in court that she felt humiliated and that the incident had affected her trust in the military. She said she now feels that women are not taken seriously in the armed forces.
