British Army soldier who sexually assaulted female colleague at Sandhurst is jailed for two years

A married British Army soldier who sexually assaulted a female colleague in her room at Sandhurst has been jailed for two years and thrown out of the military.  

‘Remorseless’ Private Craig Gough left his victim feeling ‘like a shell of a person’ after the attack at the military academy which followed an all-night drinking session. 

The 36-year-old followed his victim to her room, removed her underwear, touched her intimately and performed oral sex on her before putting his hand around her throat. 

As he carried out the assault, Gough, a married father-of-two who boasted how he liked to be ‘dominant’, told his victim: ‘Don’t worry, I’m not going to bum you.’ 

‘Remorseless’ Private Craig Gough (above) left his victim feeling ‘like a shell of a person’ after the attack at the military academy which followed an all-night drinking session

The 36-year-old followed his victim to her room, removed her underwear, touched her intimately and performed oral sex on her before putting his hand around her throat. Pictured: Bulford Military Court, Wiltshire

He was convicted of sexual assault and battery following a court martial last month and has now been thrown out of the armed forces and sentenced to two years’ military detention. 

In an emotional statement read to Bulford Military Court, Wiltshire, the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told him: ‘After what has happened to me I feel like a shell of a person. 

‘I look in the mirror and don’t see me. You have taken away a part of me that I don’t think I’ll ever get back. You’ll never understand the fear I felt.’ 

Gough, a member of the Royal Logistic Corps squadron, has served in the Army for more than a decade and has been awarded the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee medal.

Edward Hand, defending, pointed to Gough’s ‘unblemished’ previous record and said: ‘A career in the Army is something he aspired to and cherished. 

‘When he is deployed and in his uniform, he is a good, trustworthy soldier.’ 

Sentencing him to two years of military detention and dismissing him from the Army, Judge Andrew Smith said: ‘You had no reason to think she was sexually interested in you. She said no a number of times but you persisted.  

‘She was in the safety of her own room and was entitled to feel safe there. She says that you have taken away a part of her that has the right to say no. 

‘You didn’t show an ounce of remorse towards her. You don’t accept that you’ve done anything wrong. 

During the three-day trial, the court heard that the soldier and his alleged victim had gone out with work colleagues to a Wetherspoons and several other pubs and clubs before returning to their barracks. Pictured: Old College, part of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst

‘Behaviour of this type, the breach of trust – the offence is so serious, you must be dismissed [from the army] as part of your punishment. 

‘It it too serious for there not to be a deprivation of your liberty.’ 

During the three-day trial, the court heard that the soldier and his alleged victim had gone out with work colleagues to a Wetherspoons and several other pubs and clubs before returning to their barracks. 

Gough, his victim and another female soldier went to a bedroom where they continued drinking and talking. 

At 7.30am they went to bed with Gough sleeping in the female soldier’s bedroom while she went to the room of a female friend. 

William Peters, prosecuting, said: ‘When she got into [the] room she stripped down to her sports bra and pants before getting into bed. 

’25 minutes later, [Gough] came into the room and took her back into her own room with him.’ 

The court heard Gough removed the ‘frozen’ woman’s underwear before sexually assaulting her. 

At one point, the woman’s friend came into the room to return her phone, but she was too scared to ask her for help, the court was told. 

Mr Peters said: ‘[Gough] took advantage of her… he penetrated her with his finger, performed oral sex on her and put his hand around her throat. She was scared and froze. 

‘[Gough] told her: “Don’t worry, I’m not going to bum you.” 

‘[The following day, Gough] told her: “I’m into being dominant.” He told the police that he went in to see if she wanted sex.’ 

In a pre-recorded police interview shown to the court, the female soldier told the court: ‘[Gough] was kissing and biting the back of my neck. 

‘I said no and tried to push him off. He kept saying, “Don’t worry, I’m not going to bum you”.’ 

The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst is located in Camberley on the Surrey Berkshire border and is where British Army officers are trained. 

Both Prince William and Prince Harry attended the academy.