8 hours ago
Household Cavalry corporal shamed after slapping female recruit's bottom
The 28-year military career of a member of the Household Cavalry came to a 'sadly discreditable' end after he slapped the bottom of a female recruit.
Experienced Corporal of Horse Steven Henderson's behaviour in smacking the 19-year-old twice on a night out with young trainees was 'outrageous', a court martial heard.
'An experienced, senior NCO can't expect to lay hands on young female recruits in this way and have people be anything other than outraged,' Assistant Judge Advocate General John Atwill said.
It was 'a sadly discreditable end to your creditable career', he added.
Digraceful conduct of an indecent kind
Father of two Cpl Henderson, who is leaving the Army, pleaded guilty to one charge of disgraceful conduct of an indecent kind at Bulford Military Court, Wilts.
The 45-year-old has been fined £1,800 and must pay a £100 service compensation order to the victim.
The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment is known for its iconic tunics and plumed helmets, and for being at the heart of the King's Coronation, Royal weddings and state occasions.
Cpl Henderson drank 'a considerable amount of alcohol' on the night out with trainees who were 'much younger' than him, the court martial heard.
No flirtatious behaviour or consent
Prosecutor Captain Ciaran Rafferty said Cpl Henderson went on a night out in Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire.
The court heard the night out started in a Wetherspoons venue before moving to a pub called The Anne of Cleves and ending up at a karaoke bar named The Generous Briton.
The prosecutor said Cpl Henderson slapped the bottom of one of the trainees at one of the pubs.
Capt Rafferty said of the second incident: 'Later on in the evening, when the bar had closed, Henderson slapped the bottom of the same trainee again and sarcastically made jokes that it was somebody else.
'From the complainant's perspective, seemingly without any context, there wasn't any flirtatious behaviour or any indication she consented to these touches in any way.'
She felt 'some confusion' and 'shock' at the incidents, the second of which happened while she was waiting for a taxi.
'Horseplay gone too far'
Capt. Rafferty said that Cpl Henderson had a 'belief someone had slapped his bottom before he slapped her bottom and it was his belief this was the complainant'.
The prosecutor said that Cpl Henderson has served 28 years in the British army and is due to leave the service at the end of the month.
Cpl Henderson had some contact with trainees as part of his job in the household cavalry, but his role did not involve any teaching or training.
For the defence, Chris Harper said Cpl Henderson's actions were simply 'horseplay gone too far'.
