A ROYAL Navy Commander on one of Britain’s biggest warships has been jailed for sexually assaulting a female sailor.
Cdr George Walton, 45, ignored his victim’s protests to lift her top up and put his hand down her shorts.
He has also been dismissed from the Navy as he was told his behaviour had damaged its reputation.
Cdr Walton, who had served for more than 25 years, was second in command and responsible for discipline on the HMS Albion, which can carry 400 personnel.
The sex attack happened after a boozy day trip in Amsterdam with the vessel moored at Den Helder, in the Netherlands.
As some of the crew returned to base on a train Cdr Walton was sitting by his victim.
William Peters, prosecuting at Bulford Military Court, said Cdr Walton had begun touching her and she had tried to laugh it off.
But he added: “Cdr Walton then lifted up her T-shirt and put his hands under her shorts and touched her.
“She reacted sharply, telling him to get off, grabbing his hand and throwing it away from her.”
The following day, Cdr Walton was put on leave as the complaint was investigated.
The woman said in a statement: “I have tried to put this into my past. But it has always been a stress to me, especially when deployed.”
Michael Green, defending, said Cdr Walton, who admitted the charge, had quit alcohol since the incident and admitted his “behaviour was utterly unacceptable and incompatible with serving life”.
Sentencing Cdr Walton to ten months in military custody, Judge Advocate General Alan Large said: “We have no doubt it would have affected unit cohesion and the reputation of His Majesty’s Royal Navy.”
