'˜Royal Marine forced recruit to lie in paddling pool of urine and vomit' court martial is told

Marine Ian Tennet, 32, is accused of the ill-treatment of subordinate Carlo Nicholson, who was also ordered to fight other marines while naked and covered in cooking oil and eat dog food from a mess tin.

The court heard Nicholson had to complete a series of tasks in the initiation ceremony including running around camp naked, eating lard and dessert spoons of cinnamon, chilli or curry powder.

Ex-Marine Ryan Logan, 25, is also facing trial for three charges of battery, one charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and another count of disgraceful conduct of a cruel kind.

If Mr Nicholson came last in any of the tasks set he was ‘reefed’ - struck with a leather belt, and then later on in the initiation, with a second implement.

Portsmouth Military Court heard Mr Nicholson was made to lie in three inches of urine and vomit in a paddling pool.

Mr Nicholson’s initiation ended with waterboarding, when a cloth was put over his face and liquid was then poured over the cloth.

Before the initiation ceremony, new recruits were given a ‘shopping list’ of items to buy, which included alcohol.

But as Mr Nicholson is tee-total, his shopping list included other drinks like milk, lemonade, and Ribena cordial.

The court heard Nicholson was required to buy items including 23 free range eggs, a tin of dog food, four pints of milk, lard, and a tub of chilli powder.

The items were later used in the initiation ceremony for 45 Commando Marines, based at Royal Marine Condor, in Arbroath, Scotland.

Captain Alison Towler prosecuting, said: ‘This case involves an unethical and inappropriate initiation ceremony in 45 Commando Marines which took place at Royal Marines Condor on May 7, 2014.

‘The prosecution’s case if that the initiation was organised and, to an extent, structured.

‘The initiation included drinking games and activities that the marines had to take part in.

‘Those who came last during the stances were subjected to forfeits which including beatings. Those beatings to Marine Nicholson are referred to as reefing.

‘The games accumulated with ex Marine Nicholson being water boarded.’

The court heard how between a crowd of 100-150 people came together in the quadrangle, where the initiation ceremony was held, to watch.

Captain Towler said: ‘The first charge in relation to Marine Tennet only is ill treatment of a subordinate, ex Marine Nicholson.

‘You will see within the charge sheet there are a number of processes described there including removing clothes and running around naked, and consuming milk as quickly as possible.

‘He was also made to lie down in a paddling pool of urine and vomit while eggs were thrown at him, there were fights with other marines while naked and covered in cooking oil and eating spoons of cinnammon, chilli or curry powder.

‘Also, eating dog food out of a mess tin while on all fours, eating lard, and swallowing liquid though a funnel as well as consuming the content of a mess tin with contents of the pool and roll mop herring and lard.’

She added: ‘When Marine Nicholson came last or failed to perform the task to the required standard, the prosecution alleges that marine Logan whipped him first with a belt.

‘In relation to a further charge [Logan] told ex Marine Nicholson to present himself to somebody else who used an implement to whip him on the backside.

‘Ex Marine Nicholson was told to lie on a bench then other persons unknown came and put a cloth over his face and poured water over his face, we will refer to it as waterboarding.

‘As ex Marine Nicholson was tee-totoal he was given a different shopping list to others.

‘Alcohol was subsituted for lemonade, Ribena cordial, some cold gravy and milk. Others were told to bring alcohol, he was told to bring non-alcoholic drinks.

‘In relation to Marine Tennet he was actually involved in directing some of the events and encouraging and assisting other events to take place.’

Speaking of one task where new recruits were put into a dark drying room and ordered to consume alcohol and for Mr Nicholson, milk, Captain Towler said: ‘They were told to get naked.

‘They were then heralded into a dry room where a number of cases of alcohol and spirits were thrown in and Mr Nicholson was given milk.

‘They were told to drink as much as possible, and they could, if they needed to urinate or vomit they would have to do it in buckets provided in that drying room.’

The court heard that the vomit and urine in the buckets was then emptied into a small children’s paddling pool which Mr Nicholson was made to lie in as eggs were thrown at him.

Marine Tennet denies one charge of ill treatment of a subordinate.

Ex Marine Logan denies three counts of battery, one of assault by beating occasioning actual bodily harm and one charge of disgraceful conduct of a cruel kind.

(Proceeding)