Household Cavalry soldiers racially abused Northern Irish colleague, court told

Household Cavalry soldiers racially abused a Northern Irish colleague by calling him “Gerry Adams”, a court martial has heard.

Troopers Maxwell Nicholls and Declan Coutts allegedly harassed fellow soldier Tpr Scott Alexander, with slurs about the IRA and car bombs.

They shared a room at the Combermere Barracks in Windsor and repeatedly soaked his bed with water, stole his ironing board and boots, and would put him in chokeholds and headlocks.

Tpr Alexander said that he felt “demoralised” and pleaded with them to stop, but said “it didn’t make a difference; they thought it was funny”.

Tpr Nicholls and Tpr Coutts are accused of a string of nine charges relating to the incidents between July and November 2020.

Victim endured ‘persistent bullying campaign’

Lieutenant Matthew Poulsom, prosecuting, told Bulford Military Court in Wiltshire that Tpr Nicholls and Tpr Coutts launched a “persistent bullying campaign” against Tpr Alexander.

He said: “On multiple occasions they would pin him down, sit on his chest, strangle and choke him, and made racially abusive comments. They frequently made racial slurs against him being Northern Irish, referencing the IRA in a derogatory manner.”

Giving evidence, Tpr Alexander said his relationship with roommates Tpr Nicholls and Tpr Coutts started off “friendly” but became “unpleasant” within a week.

Tpr Alexander, who spoke with a strong Northern Irish accent, said they called him by the name of Gerry Adams, the former president of Sinn Féin.

He said: “I had slurs used against me after they picked up on my accent. Lots of derogatory terms were used. Terms about car bombs, I was called Gerry Adams, and they would say I was in the IRA.

“I ignored it in the beginning, but it did make me feel quite demoralised.”

He also said: “I believe it was said in quite a targeted manner, not in a banterish way. I truly feel those words were meant to hurt me or cause me anger.”

However Eleanor Lucas, a lawyer representing Tpr Nicholls, said the behaviour was “harmless horse play between friends” and Tpr Alexander was an “enthusiastic participant” who was never given “malicious” racial slurs.

She showed the court videos of Tpr Alexander taking part in group pranks and photos of him wearing a T-shirt with the nickname “terrorist” on.

Cathryn Sutcliffe, a lawyer representing Tpr Coutts, accused Tpr Alexander of “making it up as he goes along”.

Muslim soldier also allegedly targeted

Tpr Nicholls is also accused of allegedly attacking another recruit from the regiment, Tpr Azaan Aziz-Sheikh at a Wetherspoons pub in Windsor on October 30 2020.

Lt Poulsom said: “Several junior soldiers were in a pub in Windsor... The two defendants were drinking and behaving poorly and they shouted out across the bar to Tpr Aziz-Sheikh.

“Tpr Nicholls assaulted him by shoving him in the head and immediately after Tpr Nicholls sat down and made abusive comments about his Muslim faith. When they returned to Windsor’s Combermere Barracks, he was allegedly also punched and kicked by Tpr Nicholls and Tpr Coutts.

“Tpr Coutts went over to Tpr Aziz-Sheikh and without warning punched him to the face, causing him to fall to the floor. Tpr Nicholls returned and kicked Tpr Aziz-Sheikh to the face.”

Tpr Nicholls and Tpr Coutts both face one charge of racially aggravated battery on Tpr Alexander, as well as an alternative charge of battery.

The pair also both face a conduct charge relating to racial abuse towards Tpr Alexander.

Tpr Nicholls is charged with two counts of religiously aggravated assault by beating and two alternative counts of battery, all relating to attacks on Tpr Aziz-Sheikh.

Tpr Coutts is charged with battery towards Tpr Aziz-Sheikh.

The trial continues.