Tri-Service

Royal Marine Convicted Of Ill Treatment

A Royal Marine has been convicted of ill treatment after a new recruit was forced to lie in a paddling pool full of urine and vomit.

Ian Tennet had been accused, along with Ryan Logan, of making a new recruit take part in a series of humiliating tests and drinking games as part of an initiation ceremony.

Carlo Nicholson told a court martial he had been forced to lie in the paddling pool while eggs were thrown at him.

Mr Nicholson claimed he was waterboarded with cider and forced to fight with other marines while naked and covered in cooking oil.

He said he was also made to eat dog food out of a mess tin and run around the camp naked while eating chilli and cinnamon powder and drinking bottles of lemonade taped to his arm.

If he failed in a challenge or forfeited, Mr Nicholson said he was hit across the backside with a belt and a rubber tool.

File photo: Commandos based at RM Condor on exercise

He accused the men of playing a part in the “joining run” into 45 Commando, based at Royal Marine Condor, in Arbroath, Scotland in 2014.

Tennet was convicted of one charge of ill treatment of a subordinate.

Logan was convicted on one charge of battery and one charge of disgraceful conduct of a cruel kind. He was cleared of three other counts.

Marine Tennet compared the events to a Freshers’ Week at university and said he was sober and there to “keep the peace”.

Former Marine Logan admitted striking Mr Nicholson with a belt but denied the waterboarding. Two other marines had already admitted their involvement.

The verdicts were announced at Portsmouth Military Court. The defendants will be sentenced on Monday May 16th.

Mr Nicholson left the service in December 2014 after joining in January 2013.