Probe launched into police handling of 'drunk' Faslane sailor days before he was found dead

Police Scotland have opened an internal inquiry into the way officers dealt with a drunk sailor – just days before the submariner was found dead.

Josh Gayton, who served at Faslane Naval Base on the Clyde, was handed a fixed penalty notice by cops for urinating in public in Helensburgh just after midnight last Tuesday following a night out. The 21-year-old was let go, despite reportedly appearing drunk and wearing only a T-shirt and trousers.

He then went missing. A news release from Police Scotland late on Sunday night disclosed that a body was discovered around 6.20pm in the water off Helensburgh.

It said: “Formal identification has still to take place, however, the family of Joshua Gayton, last seen in Helensburgh on Tuesday, 16 April, 2024, has been notified.

“A post mortem examination will be carried out in due course, however, the death is not being treated as suspicious. A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.”

The matter has now been referred to Police Scotland's Professional Standards Department, which oversees disciplinary matters, complaints and the conduct of officers.

Guidelines issued by the force state that they will ‘automatically’ refer certain serious incidents to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner when ‘direct or indirect’ contact with the police is the cause or contributory factor in someone’s death. PIRC were today approached for comment.

Following his disappearance, Mr Gayton’s shipmates launched their own search for their colleague, sharing descriptions and images of the young man. A serving military officer, who did not wish to be named, had questioned why the force had not contacted military police.

He told the Mail on Sunday: ”The Royal Navy patrol Helensburgh all the time and they should have been contacted by Police Scotland when they were dealing with Josh. They have a duty of care to people and their slogan is ‘Keeping People Safe’.

“Instead, his comrades are wondering why they let him walk off into the night, inebriated, under-dressed and not knowing where he was, knowing he was a serving member of the Royal Navy.”

The Navy said it was liaising with Police Scotland following the discover of the body.

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