HALF a dozen members of Colchester’s famed Parachute regiment have been either dismissed or disciplined this year for offences ranging from sexual assault to grievous bodily harm, the Gazette can reveal.

According to official documents which detail the court martial results from military court centres, six personnel ranging from Captain to Private have been found guilty by officials at a criminal court in Catterick, north Yorkshire, where cases involving serving personnel are reviewed.

Though the names of the personnel who have been dismissed or disciplined are redacted, their rank, offence, and punishment are publicly available on the Government website.

The highest ranking officer to receive punishment was a Captain in 2 Para who was found guilty in January of two charges relating to negligently performing a duty.

Gazette: Decision – the cases are overseen by officials at a Military Court CentreDecision – the cases are overseen by officials at a Military Court Centre (Image: Pexels)

The Military Court Centre ordered the Captain to pay a total £1,275 in fines, though they cleared the soldier of two fraud charges.

A Corporal who was a member of 3 Para was dismissed in March after being found guilty of two sexual assault charges, as well as using threatening, abusive, insulting, or provocative behaviour.

As well as being dismissed, the Corporal was sentenced to a three-year service community order and required to attend an accredited rehabilitation course.

A Lance Corporal in 2 Para who was found guilty of unlawfully inflicting grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and two charges of affray was also dismissed whilst being required to serve a three-year community order.

Gazette: HQ – the Paras are based at Colchester's Merville BarracksHQ – the Paras are based at Colchester's Merville Barracks (Image: Newsquest)

Other offences related to Privates in 2 Para and 3 Para who were given either fines or detention orders for misconduct and affray, whilst a Signaller in 216 Para was fined for contravention of standing orders.

Responding to a request for comment from the Gazette, a British Army spokesman said: “We expect very high standards of behaviour of our personnel, whether they are on or off duty.  

 “All those who are found to have committed an offence, including a criminal offence under the Armed Forces Act 2006 are dealt with through the disciplinary process.

“Those who have otherwise fallen short of the Army's high standards are dealt with administratively and may face sanctions including dismissal.”