Patrol commander is cleared of failing to deal with offences by two servicemen at court martial in Germany

This article is more than 7 years old

This article is more than 7 years old

Two British soldiers, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted abusing Afghan civilians when they appeared at a court martial hearing in Sennelager, Germany. Their patrol commander was cleared of failing in his duty to deal with the offences.

One soldier admitted pulling an Afghan boy's hand towards his crotch while saying: "Touch my special place." Soldier X, who has been granted anonymity because of fears that naming him would endanger his life and that of his family, pleaded guilty to conduct to the prejudice of good order and service discipline at the start of a court martial for three British servicemen.

The offence took place while he was on tour in Afghanistan in December 2011.

He also admitted insulting another Afghan child between 16 October 2011 and 6 January 2012.

Soldier X was cleared of disgraceful conduct of an indecent kind and of forcing an Afghan girl to touch him on a separate occasion.

A second soldier, referred to as Soldier Y, admitted that he was involved in having an Afghan man photographed with a sign which read "Silly Paki" between 16 October 2011 and 6 January 2012.

The serviceman pleaded guilty to a racially aggravated offence likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress under the Crime and Disorder Act.

He was initially charged with conduct to the prejudice of good order and service discipline but prosecutor Lieutenant Colonel Jane England accepted his guilty plea to the separate offence.

Meanwhile, their patrol commander, referred to as Soldier Z, was cleared of failing in his duty to deal with the offences.

England said it would not be in the public interest or appropriate to proceed against him in the light of the guilty pleas from Soldier X and Y.

Resident Judge Advocate Alan Large said he would begin sentencing at 2pm local time on Tuesday.