Scots soldier ‘punched sergeant’ over Jock taunt

Sandhurst Academy, near where the incident is said to have taken place. Picture: Getty

Warrant officer Craig Martin, 36, was “heavily under the influence of alcohol” and had fallen “face-first” on to the dancefloor just moments before launching an attack against his superior officer.

Sergeant Major Carl Taylor came over to try and diffuse the situation at the charity ball in Sandhurst, Berks, but WO2 Martin punched him in the face.

Martin, of 4th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (The Highlanders), claimed he did so after Taylor allegedly called him a “Jock ****” – a claim Taylor denied.

And following a three-day trial he was convicted by a board of five serviceman of using violence against a superior officer at Bulford Military Court Centre in Wiltshire.

But Martin was cleared of another charge which related to him allegedly twisting a female captain’s wrist in an “aggressive way” during the ball.

The court heard Martin tried to punch Taylor several more times and also failed to land a headbutt just after midnight on June 15, 2014.

Lt Col Victoria Phillips, prosecuting, said: “He then threw other punches which did not connect and also failed to land a headbutt.”

Martin, based at Fallingbostel, Germany, was a colour sergeant at the time of the incident.

Ms Sophie Shotton, defending, said Martin only reacted after Taylor called him a ‘Jock ****’.

She said: “When you (Taylor) took hold of Martin he asked you to let go and he said ‘get off me’ or ‘f****** get off me’.

“And your response was to call him a ‘Jock ****’, wasn’t it? And then Martin pushed you off with his left elbow.”

But Taylor replied: “Absolutely not. I am not the type of person to say that about someone.”

Martin will be sentenced in the same court on June 12.