Tri-Service

Royal Marine Instructor "Pulled Female Recruits' Hair"

A Royal Marine physical training instructor pulled the hair of female recruits as they got out of the swimming pool during training sessions and danced suggestively in front of one of his trainees on a coach trip, a court martial has heard.

Corporal Matthew Edwards is also accused of writing on the face of another recruit at the Royal Marines School of Music in Portsmouth, Hampshire.

The 29-year-old, who is based at HMS Excellent, Portsmouth, denies six charges of battery and one of disgraceful conduct of an indecent kind.

Four of the battery charges relate to female recruits having their hair pulled at the swimming pool, one allegation involves Cpl Edwards drawing on the face of a recruit when she went to see him about an injury and the sixth charge involved the instructor pulling the shirt of a male recruit.

Major Les Campbell, prosecuting, told the court martial hearing at Portsmouth Naval Base that the disgraceful conduct charge related to a coach trip to the Mountbatten Festival of Music at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

He said that Cpl Edwards "danced suggestively" in front of the female recruit before "stroking and flicking her hair".

Maj Campbell said that concerns had been raised about Cpl Edwards's conduct, which prompted the commanding officer to hold a "clearing of the lower decks", which involved giving the recruits a chance to raise any concerns or complaints.

The court heard that about 60 to 70 people were present at this complaints session, which lasted "two to three hours".

He said this then led to an investigation being launched by the Royal Navy Police (RNP).

The trial continues.