Ben James (left) and Luke Bowen (right) pleaded guilty

Three Marines who staged a ‘hideous, puerile and repugnant’ initiation in a nightclub have avoided jail.

Luke Bowen, Jordan Coia and Ben James – who have all now been thrown out of the military – and clubber Craig Lynch, who is not in the services, carried out depraved acts including exposing themselves and drinking urine in DeVitos nightclub in Arbroath, near the Marines RM Condor base.

Forfar Sheriff Court heard the sick ceremony was caught on CCTV then reported to police by bosses at the club.

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A sheriff said background reports in the case suggest that ‘outrageous conduct by past Marines is expected to be surpassed’ by new recruits.




Describing the incident, fiscal depute Stewart Duncan said: ‘Around 12.45am an employee approached the amanger saying there were a nuber of males with their genitals exposed outside.

‘A member of security staff checked but found nothing untoward. The following day CCTV was reviewed and the incident was captured and reported to police.

‘The footage shows a former co-accused turning around and beginning to urinate.

Jordan Coia pictured outside court

‘Luke Bowen then comes towards him, bends down with his head at the other man’s crotch and is seen to be drinking the urine.

‘Luke Bowen then undoes his belt and begins to urinate then drinks his own urine.

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‘Ben James then bends down and drinks Luke Bowen’s urine who then places his penis in James’s mouth.Jordan Coia then bends over and does the same.

‘Craig Lynch then bends down and places Bowen’s penis in his mouth and Bowen then grabs his head and pushes it back and forward imitating a sex act.

‘Bowen then pulls his trousers up just as the security guard is seen to enter the picture.’

Despite admitting charges of public indecency 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.

DeVitos nightclub in Arbroath (Picture: Google)

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.

Jacob Holt, 21, Ryan Fowler, 23, Michael Byrne, 26, all care of RM Condor in Arbroath, had their not guilty pleas to a charge of public indecency accepted. It is understood those three men remain serving Royal Marines.

Lynne Sturrock, representing Bowen, said: ‘He had hoped this would be a lifelong career but it has been brought to an end. He’s ashamed and embarrassed at this incident and his family and friends now are all aware of the circumstances of it.’

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Sheriff Gregor Murray imposed community payback orders with unpaid work on all four men.

Coia will carry out 225 hours, James 240, Bowen 300 and Lynch 260 hours.

The sheriff said: ‘It appears there’s an expectation that Marines participate in conduct such as this. This was puerile and repugnant as the narration clearly demonstrates.’