Four Royal Marines have been sentenced to eight months of military detention for fracturing a colleague's cheekbone after witnessing him harassing a woman at a bar in Exeter. The incident occurred at The Botanist bar in July last year, where the victim, Recruit Anton Mills, was described as being 'drunk and annoying' and was seen squeezing a woman's neck.
The Assault
The court at Bulford Military Court in Wiltshire heard that the four marines—Eathen Bradley-Moor, 22; Shaun Joash, 25; Lucas Johnson, 22; and Ben O'Callaghan, 23—repeatedly punched and kicked Recruit Mills. They also stamped on him when he fell to the ground. All four pleaded guilty to one count each of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Background of the Incident
The men, who held the rank of recruit at the time of the attack, were stationed at the Commando Training Centre in Lympstone, Devon. They had recently returned from a week-long training exercise when they decided to go out drinking. Bradley-Moor and Johnson were identified as the primary instigators, with Bradley-Moor pushing Recruit Mills to the ground, initiating the altercation.
Prosecutor Colonel Neil Keery stated that Recruit Mills had been drinking most of the day and was being persistent and annoying towards a friend of his ex-girlfriend. The four defendants did not know that he knew her. The situation escalated when Bradley-Moor and Johnson started the altercation, and O'Callaghan and Joash joined in from across the bar.
Consequences for the Victim
Recruit Mills suffered a fractured cheekbone in three places, which required medical treatment and caused a significant delay in his training. In a victim statement, he expressed how the assault affected his morale and made him more aware of his surroundings. He noted that he would have earned his green beret by now if not for the incident, and he still has months of training left.
Sentencing and Mitigation
Defending the marines, Lieutenant Commander Andrew Pandyan highlighted that they were suffering from sleep deprivation, fatigue, and stress from their training, which impaired their judgment. He described the incident as spontaneous and a loss of control.
Judge Advocate General Alan Large, in sentencing, acknowledged that none of the marines had prior trouble and that they had positive references. However, he emphasized that unlawful violence can corrode operational ability and unit cohesiveness. Despite considering dismissal, he decided that service detention was more appropriate than a prison sentence. The marines were ordered to pay £750 in compensation to their victim. They have since been promoted to the rank of Marine but are employed in non-combat roles.
