Household Cavalry soldier dismissed after climbing uninvited into bed with naked female colleague

A Household Cavalry soldier has been dismissed from the British army after he climbed invited into bed with a naked female colleague and starting "grinding" against her.

Trooper Louis Anderson, 24, stroked his victim's back before thrusting against her as she lay "frozen" with fear after a drunken night out, a military court heard.

He was found guilty of sexual assault last month following a four-day trial at Tidworth Barracks, Wiltshire.

Anderson was given a two-year suspended prison sentence and was also handed a two-year community service order.

He must complete 40 days of rehabilitation and 150 hours of unpaid work within the next 24 months.

The court was told that both Anderson and his female colleague were soldiers in the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, known for its tunics and plumed helmets and being at the heart of the Queen’s birthday parade, royal weddings and state occasions.

Anderson enlisted in October 2019 and the regiment only started accepting women the same year.

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The court heard that the female soldier, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had gone back to her barracks in a taxi with friends after a night out.

She later woke to find Anderson – who did not have permission to be in her barracks – sitting on the edge of her bed stroking her naked back, the court heard.

When the female soldier got up and went to her toilet to be sick, Anderson followed her, and even stuck his fingers to the back of her throat.

After she had finished being sick, the female soldier returned to her bed alone.

Minutes later, Anderson returned to her bed, started stroking her face and grinding against her bottom, the court heard.

When one of her female friends came into the room shortly after, the woman "raised her hand for help", the court was told.

The friend then "pulled her away" by the hand and she spent the rest of the night in a spare room.

Anderson did not leave the female soldier’s bed until the following morning.

The female solider reported the incident to her commander and Anderson was later questioned by military police and charged.

Sentencing Anderson, Judge Advocate General Darren Reed told him that he had "avoided an immediate prison sentence by the very narrowest of margins".

The judge said: "[The female soldier] did not invite you back to her room at any point. You returned after being specifically told to leave.

"Service personnel have little choice around where, and with whom they serve. Sexual offending undermines the bonds of trust between those who serve together."

The court heard the female solider is being treated for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, has had to move out of her block and been issued with a service dog.

"You entered the room of a colleague who was vulnerable due to her intoxication," the judge told Anderson.

"It should have been perfectly obvious to you that she was not interested in you sexually."