AN ARMY Captain “lunged” at a fellow guest after he allegedly groped his girlfriend at a military Christmas party.
Captain Alexander Caine reportedly “defended” his partner after she told him that the man squeezed her bottom, a military court heard.
The officer asked for the alleged offender, named in court as Gareth Phillips, to be booted from the event in Brecon, Wales in December last year.
However, Mr Caine later noticed the individual was on the dancefloor and reportedly decided to deal with the civilian himself.
Mr Caine, who serves in the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Yorkshire Regiment, lunged at the man, pulling him to the ground and was eventually restrained, the court heard.
At Bulford Military Court, Captain Caine admitted one count of fighting and was slapped with a £3,240 fine.
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Mr Caine revealed he had been mixing alcohol, and was drinking “beer, Prosecco, two glasses of wine and a margarita cocktail”.
The Captain received a caution for common assault in 2018 and had been slapped with a warning for threatening behaviour in 2022.
Lieutenant Colonel Mike Wade-Smith, who was Mr Caine’s commanding officer between 2022 and 2024, defended him following the incident.
He said: “Capt Caine has demonstrated exceptional qualities, including operational capability, maintaining excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
“He delivers outstanding results. He is regarded as a role model by his peers and subordinates alike.
“He is well-regarded, and while acting as an officer is someone who excels.
“A natural and effective leader, he is a highly driven individual with significant potential for future leadership roles.”
Defending, Maria Brannan told the court that Captain Caine “believed he was acting to defend his girlfriend”.
She added: “Capt Caine went to a Christmas party in the mess hall with his girlfriend.
“She told him in the night that she had been touched indecently by a man she didn’t know who was Gareth Phillips.
“She said that the man had touched her bum.
“Capt Caine told senior officers at the time and was told that it would be dealt with.
“It’s not clear what happened next, but either Mr Phillips hadn’t been removed or had been and got back in.
“After seeing him on the dancefloor at 11:30, my client regrets that he tackled Mr Phillips to remove him himself.
“He went to remove him and it turned into a lunge.”
“It’s not argued that my client had been drinking that night.
“Capt Caine was pulled off and led away by others and they put him to bed. No injury was caused to anyone there.
“My client regrets his actions and by being in court today he has learned a bitter lesson.
“He apologises to his colleagues who he let down, to the court, to his girlfriend who was still upset from the incident, and even to Mr Phillips despite what happened.”
In his closing remarks, Assistant Judge Advocate General John Atwill issued Mr Caine with an ultimatum.
He continued: “Either control your alcohol use or leave the Army.
“Your service record does not excuse your actions.
“It was unnecessary and disgraceful.”