‘Exceptional’ Army Captain in dock for defending his girlfriend by tackling man who groped her at Army Christmas bash

An ‘exceptional’ Army Captain was hauled to a court martial and fined after he ‘defended’ his girlfriend by tackling a civilian who groped her at a military Christmas party.

Captain Alexander Caine ‘lunged’ at the Army party guest after his partner told him that the man squeezed her bottom, a military court heard.

The well-respected officer had initially asked senior officers to remove the civilian from the event in Brecon, Wales, but later spotted him back on the dancefloor.

A military panel heard he took matters into his own hands by tackling the man to the ground and had to be pulled off of him by his colleagues.

At Bulford Military Court, Wilts, Capt Caine admitted one count of fighting and was given a £3,240 fine.

Capt Caine, of the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Yorkshire Regiment, was stationed at the Infantry Battle School in Brecon at the time of the incident.

A Christmas party was held in the training site’s mess in December 2024, which he and his girlfriend attended.

The captain was off-duty at the party and admitted to drinking ‘beer, Prosecco, two glasses of wine and a margarita cocktail’.

The court heard that Capt Caine’s girlfriend told him early in the evening that another guest, who was named in court as Gareth Phillips, had inappropriately grabbed her bottom while they were dancing.

Capt Caine immediately went to the senior officers on the site to report the incident and asked that the Mr Phillips be removed, which they agreed to do.

The court heard that either Mr Phillips was never removed, or he had been but let himself back into the party.

When Capt Caine saw Mr Phillips back on the dancefloor at 11.30pm, he went to remove the man himself. 

But his attempt ‘turned into a lunge’, the court heard, resulting in him tackling Mr Phillips to the floor.

Two of the captain’s colleagues pulled him off Mr Phillips and put him to bed.

Capt Caine was later interviewed by service police and charged with fighting.

He had previously received a caution for common assault after an incident with a bouncer before he enlisted in 2018 and had also been warned for threatening behaviour in 2022. Both incidents involved alcohol.

Lieutenant Colonel Mike Wade-Smith, who was Capt Caine’s commanding officer between 2022 and 2024, described the captain as ‘demonstrating exceptional qualities’.

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 Capt Caine ‘believed he was acting to defend his girlfriend’.

She said: ‘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.’

The barrister continued: ‘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.

‘He believed he was acting to defend his girlfriend.’

Ms Brannan added: ‘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.’

The board sentenced Capt Caine to a fine of £3,240.

In his closing remarks, Assistant Judge Advocate General John Atwill said that the captain ‘had a stark choice to make’.

He continued: ‘Either control your alcohol use or leave the Army.

‘Your service record does not excuse your actions.

‘It was unnecessary and disgraceful.’