Female Army musician guilty of sex attack
A female British Army musician in the Coldstream Guards band has been found guilty of sexual assault.
A court martial heard that Adelle Foster, a military clarinet player, tried to take her female colleague's clothes off before groping her. The victim recorded the incident, and the audio was played to the hearing.
When the colleague protested, Foster told her: 'I'm still going to touch you.'
The historic Coldstream Guards – recognised by their red tunics and bearskin caps – is responsible for guarding the Royal family and is famed for its high-profile ceremonial duties outside Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle such as the Changing of the Guard.
The regiment's band is one of the oldest and well known military bands in the world and as well as having its own recording deal, taking part in global public events including the King's Coronation in 2023.
Foster, who told the woman she was 'joking', has been found guilty of three counts of sexual assault by a board at Bulford Military Court.
Argued about 'behaviour'
Opening the case, Commodore James Farrant said that the incident took place in the early hours after the clarinet player had drunk a bottle of wine.
The prosecutor said the women 'didn't get on that well, and they argued', including about 'each other's behaviour'.
Commodore Farrant continued: 'Musician Foster moved closer to [the woman] and suggested that she, Musician Foster, give her, [the woman], a massage to help her sleep.
'[The woman] declined, but Musician Foster started stroking her hand anyway. [The woman] tried to lift this off.'
Foster then grabbed her breast and touched her intimately, the court heard.
The prosecutor continued: 'All touching was over clothing. Eventually, Musician Foster said she was going to sleep, [the woman] thought the incident was over.
'But Musician Foster began touching [her] again, this time on her breasts and bottom.
'She began trying to take [the woman]'s clothes off. She eventually stopped following [the woman]'s polite protest.'
Foster mocked her victim
Commodore Farrant said that, despite the woman telling her colleague that she was going to bed, Foster touched her genitals through her jeans once again.
The victim told her 'no', and Foster mocked her by 'repeating [her] protestations to her'.
The woman then tried to leave the room, but Foster stopped her from going before her victim managed to escape.
The exchanges between the women were partially captured in audio recordings the victim made that night, which were played in court.
The victim told the court: 'She admitted herself by saying 'I just tried to make the situation lighter'.'
The musician, when confronted with this evidence in an interview, said she did not remember saying she was joking. She denied touching her colleague inappropriately.
Foster will be sentenced at a later date.
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