Ben James and Luke Bowen appeared before a sheriff over what is believed to have been an initiation ceremony

Three Marines have been kicked out of the military for an initiation ceremony involving urinating in one another’s mouths and getting a civilian to perform a sex act.

They were recorded on CCTV in a beer garden at the DeVitos nightclub in Arbroath.

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A court heard that Luke Bowen urinated in the mouths of fellow Marines Jordan Coia and Ben James before putting his penis in their mouths.

He then drank his own urine along with that of the others before shaking his penis.


A fourth person, Craig Lynch, who was not in the military, then performed a sex act on another person.

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However, despite admitting the charges none of the men will face being placed on the sex offenders register after the Crown accepted there was ‘no significant sexual element’ to the crime.



Lynch, 42, of Aberdeen, James, 22, of Thirsk, Bowen, 25, of Chichester, and Coia, 22, whose addresses were given as c/o RM Condor, pleaded guilty on summary complaint to a charge of public indecency.

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It is understood three other men who were present at the time will remain serving Royal Marines.

A court source said: ‘This is a massive embarrassment for the Marines – its not the image they want to give off.

‘Initiations of some kind have existed in the military for decades but they want to eradicate this kind of behaviour, especially when it is in public as this was.’

Solicitor Nick Whelan, defending Coia, said: ‘This resulted in the ending of service for a number of these young men, including Mr Coia.

‘What he thought would be a lifetime relationship with the military has come to an end after two-and-a-half years of service.

‘The case has been hanging over these individuals and has prevented him obtaining employment as it is still pending.’

Nick Markowski, defending James, said: ‘He was also discharged from the Royal Marines.’

And Lynne Sturrock, for Bowen, added: ‘He’s been discharged and now lives with his parents.’

Sheriff John Rafferty deferred sentence and released them on bail.