A Royal Military Police officer has been sacked for drunkenly groping a colleague hours after attending a course on ‘unacceptable sexual behaviour’.
Lt Liam Hulkes, 31, whose role involved probing Army sex offenses, committed a sexual assault during a drinking event following a study day last June, having initiated a series of lewd and unwelcome advances.
A court martial yesterday was informed about the unrepentant officer, an alumnus of the esteemed Sandhurst military academy, who ‘cupped’ the civil servant’s backside, leaving her ‘paralyzed’ with fear.
Hulkes, while attending a course at Worthy Down, Hants, ironically took part in discussions on ‘inappropriate behaviour in the workplace,’ as disclosed at the hearing in Catterick, North Yorkshire.
Later, over dinner and drinks in the officers’ mess, he was seen pestering the woman, as his advances became increasingly sexual.
Prosecutor Major Sonny Hawkins noted: ‘As the evening progressed, with more alcohol likely consumed, the defendant began expressing a sexual interest in the victim, making her uncomfortable.
‘He began to repeatedly tell her that he wanted to ‘f*** her’ while seeking out her company at every turn.
‘Comments of this nature continued despite the victim stating she was not interested in him in that way, and others took steps to intervene.’
Lt Hulkes at his court martial hearing in Catterick, North Yorks, where he was dismissed from the Army after being found guilty of sexual assault
Other officers and civilians watched as Hulkes, of 1 Regiment RMP, ‘cupped’ the woman’s chin before his behaviour escalated further.
‘He stood next to the victim at the bar, reached around her and cupped her bottom,’ Major Hawkins added.
‘A sexual offence that the defendant knew that the victim did not consent to.’
Judge Andrew Smith, in dismissing Hulkes from the Army and imposing a six-month prison sentence, suspended for a year, described the officer’s actions as ‘predatory sexualised behaviour.’
‘You are obviously an intelligent man,’ Judge Smith stated. ‘As a Royal Military Police officer, you should be as aware as anyone of the widespread nature of unacceptable sexual conduct.
‘In drink, you’ve managed to disassociate your own predatory sexualised behaviour from the behaviours you’ve been trained about.’
The judge noted that the theme for the study day had included ‘work with regard to the problems arising from unacceptable sexual behaviour within the Army.’
Judge Smith said Hulkes, who continues to deny wrongdoing, must remain on the sex offender register for the next seven years.
In an impact statement, the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she had been left psychologically scarred.
She said: ‘When the assault happened, it was sudden and unexpected. I felt frozen, unable to react in that moment.
‘It was not just a violation of my body, it was a complete invasion of my boundaries.
‘What he did to me was not just wrong, it was dehumanising.’
The hearing heard Hulkes had no previous convictions and had thrown away his ‘dreams’ in a ‘moment of madness’
She added that she remained ‘haunted’ by the ordeal, stating: ‘I did not consent, I did not reciprocate and I did not deserve this.’
Hulkes, of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs, was convicted after a trial of one count of sexual assault.
The court heard he had no previous convictions and had boasted an impeccable record during his four-and-a-half years of service.
Daran Samat, defending, said Hulkes had thrown away his military dreams in a ‘moment of madness.’
He said: ‘Almost every part of Lt Hulkes’s life is about to change.
‘He is about to lose his whole dream and some may say he brought that on himself.
‘That may be true but the reality is that the impact on him is very, very great.’
The Royal Military Police – known as Red Caps – are the police force for the Army, responsible for investigating ‘complex operations and serious crimes.’
Earlier this year, the Mail on Sunday revealed that six junior military officers, including Hulkes, were facing trial by court martial for sexual offences.
