 |
| Guilty Of Assault: Forsyth |
A military consultant, who slapped a young woman’s bum at a Royal Navy charity event, was cleared of sexual assault today, but fined for striking the blow.
Former Army Staff Sergeant Mark Forsyth, 58, who consumed two pints of beer and “five or six” glasses of wine was told his behaviour was “bullying”.
He was fined £750, with £250 compensation to the victim by Judge Martin Griffith for the offence of common assault at the Admiralty House fundraiser in Whitehall for the National Museum of the Royal Navy on February 15, last year.
“I have no idea, well in fact I have a pretty good idea, why it is your are standing in this dock in this court after over twenty-one years in the Army and working in the defence industry,” the judge told Forsyth.
“Finding yourself in drink at this event and for reasons I don’t quite understand you hit that young lady, a young woman employed as an organiser for the charity event for the benefit of the Royal Navy Museum and you helped yourself to alcohol there.”
Forsyth, of Millennium Close, Frampton Cotterell, Coalpit Heath, Bristol - boss of MRDFORSYTH Consulting Limited never disputed smacking the woman’s rear, but always insisted there was no sexual motive.
“This young lady was young enough to be your grand daughter, she is an attractive young lady and when collecting badges with her bottom towards you in a forceful attack because you were in drink and just felt like it you struck her.
“It was bullying thing to do in drink, which I am sure you are thoroughly ashamed of doing.
“You sought to explain it as some sort of service camaraderie, but I can’t imagine you would strike a serviceman or marine. If you did you’d have to go to the dentist afterwards.
“This was a small young lady. The courts have to stand up for woman who while carrying out their work have to deal wit bigger people like you who strike them.”
 |
| Forsyth Pictured Earlier During The Trial |
Earlier that night Forsyth touched a waitress serving canapés and was warned by pal Major Cliff Allun, but insisted this was simply to get her attention and was not another bum grope.
However, the judge said: “You had a go at the waitress. I have no doubt about that.
“Mr. Allun told you to stop doing that, but you carried on. There was a warning and you certainly carried out this offence after consuming alcohol.
“She was vulnerable and you took advantage of it.
“You are were good character and exemplary behaviour, representing this country, if not in war zones, then Bosnia, the closest to a war zone and have let yourself down completely.
“That slap has cost you, leaving aside continuing to carry out the work you have done well so far in the interests of this country.
“You can go now. I’m sure I won’t see you again. Don’t drink so much at events. Hit a man, he might hit you back.”
Turning to the jury the judge added: “I’ve tried to hit him as hard in the pocket as he did to that bottom.”
Forsyth’s lawyer told the court: “There’s a lot of positives with this man. Since leaving the army he’s been involved in charities raising money for soldiers with PTSD and with Help for Heroes.
“He is thoroughly ashamed of himself and accepts it was disgraceful conduct.”
As a £300-a day consultant Forsyth fear the assault conviction may ruin his career. “The problem he’s got now is that with a criminal conviction he may not have security clearance.”
Outside court Forsyth said the trial’s publicity had wrecked his career: “I’ll never work in the defence industry again.”
The woman told the Southwark Crown Court trial: “I turned and felt a large hit on my left buttock.
“I turned and looked at him in shock and said: ‘What are you doing?’ and his business friend said: ‘What the f*** are you doing? You can’t keep doing this.’
“Mr. Forsyth laughed and lit up a cigarette outside and then tried to come back in, but his friend took him away.”
On his professional profile Forsyth describes himself as an experienced Defence and Business consultant seeking new challenges.
He was an electronics engineer for twenty-four years, specialising in tanks with the Army Technical Support Agency.
He has worked on projects here in the UK, plus Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and Singapore.
Forsyth previously worked as a specialist for the Australian Defence Forces and the New Zealand Defence Force in their delivery of heavy recovery military vehicles.
He is a former parish councillor for Frampton Cotterell Parish Council and an ex-town councillor at Bradley Stoke.
Forsyth is a graduate of Worcester University, Farnborough College of Technology and the School of Electronic Engineering.
He currently resides in a four-bedroom £550,000 detached home.
Admiralty House is used for government functions and houses ministerial apartments.
It backs onto Horse Guards Parade and was once home to Winston Churchill while serving as First Lord of the Admiralty
John Prescott had a grace-and-favour flat in the building when he was Deputy PM and it has been home to several Prime Ministers during 10 Downing Street renovations.
No comments:
Post a Comment