Drunk senior navy officer launched ‘disgraceful' attack at Scots nuclear base

Scottish Sun

3 days ago

A NAVY commander swerved jail after head-butting a Royal Marine Sergeant Major in a drunken brawl at a Scots nuclear base.
Lt Commander Gary Fletcher, 34, behaved like a 'taproom bruiser' in a booze-fuelled fist fight at HMNB Clyde, home of the UK's Trident 2 nuclear armed submarines.
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Commander Gary Fletcher behaved like a 'taproom bruiser' in a booze-fuelled fist fight at HMNB Clyde
Credit: Alamy
Fletcher attacked Warrant Officer Hamish Robb, the Regimental Sergeant Major of the 43 Commando, after a boxing competition on the base.
A court heard the pair then thrashed around on the floor as RSM Robb tried to restrain the "aggressive and agitated" senior officer.
Judge Advocate Andrew Smith slammed Fletcher's conduct as 'disgraceful'.
He sentenced him to two years loss of seniority, which means to £1700 docked from his salary, an official reprimand and a ban on promotion for two years.
It will also affect his military pension.
Judge Smith said: "You behaved like a taproom bruiser."
It comes after three submarine officers were stripped of their OBEs following sex abuse and bullying scandals.
And the former First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Ben Key is currently suspended pending an investigation into an alleged affair with a subordinate.
Judge Smith acknowledged Fletcher had been injured in the Faslane fight, but said: "That is down to nothing other than your own disgraceful actions."
He added: "This aberration on your part is likely to have a significant knock-on effect throughout your career for a number of years but you can put it behind you and can go on."
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The military court at Catterick, North Yorks, heard Lt Cdr Fletcher had been "anxious" about attending the event because a person involved in his recent relationship break-up was attending.
Major Jon Harris, prosecuting, told the court: "On October 10th 2024 there had been a boxing event at Hm naval base Clyde which Lt Cdr Fletcher attended and had been drinking heavily in the senior rates mess. Witnesses described him as intoxicated.
"He left the mess and was trying to re-enter the mess when he was met by Regimental Sergeant Major Robb, who was assisting officers in leaving the mess.
"Lt Cdr Fletcher became agitated and aggressive and headbutted and punched W1 Robb, who tried to restrain him.
"The two men ended up on the floor, with Lt Cdr Fletcher flailing his arms and legs.
'His knee hit W1 Robb causing bruising to both eyes and a cut under his left eye.
"Lt Cdr Fletcher left the scene on his own after the two were separated."
Military police were called and found Fletcher asleep in his quarters. On seeing he had facial bruising, an ambulance was called.
Lt Cdr Fletcher launched a tirade at both police and ambulance staff, which was described as "vulgar and rude" by the military police officers who went to arrest him.
The court was told Fletcher previously had a spotless reputation in the service and was awarded a four star commendation earlier in 2024.
He had served with distinction on a Royal Navy warship in support operations in the Middle East, the hearing was told.
His commanding officer at HMS Neptune, Commander John Fletcher, said he had "excelled" as a logistics officer and had "a great sense of departmental pride and identity.
In a statement, Cdr Fletcher told the court: "He has set about rebuilding and strengthening professional relationships with humility and honesty, which is a testament to his character.
"He is calm, measured and thoughtful in response to stresses and I have seen no further evidence of him drinking to excess.
"He is a good person, an empathetic leader and professionally competent logistics officer who made a mistake in drinking to excess and behaving in an uncharacteristic way."
James Hay, mitigating, said Fletcher had "significant personal challenges" after the break-up of a relationship.
A person connected to that had been attending the event, which contributed to Lt Cdr. Fletcher's heavy drinking, My Hay said.
He added: "He is apologetic about his actions that night and sought to make amends as soon as possible thereafter."
Fletcher admitted battery and behaving in a way likely to discredit His Majesty's forces whilst under the influence of alcohol.
The court heard he had a previous conviction for drink driving after boozing at a wedding in Devon in 2021.
The hearing continues.