Royal Navy sailor faces court martial accused of touching female colleague's breasts and bottom

Leading warfare specialist (underwater warfare) Andrew Hallimond, who is based on Type 23 frigate HMS Richmond, is on trial at Bulford Military Court accused of four charges of sexual assault by touching between February and June last year.

Rupert Gregory, prosecuting, told the court that the 38-year-old is accused of grabbing the breasts of the complainant on one occasion while playing basketball and slapping her bottom on several other occasions.

He said the pair were not in a relationship and added: ‘It would appear the defendant developed a rather unhealthy interest in the complainant. That interest spilt over and he appeared not to be able to contain himself in her presence.

‘He simply couldn't keep his hands off her, whenever the opportunity arose he would slap her bottom and grope her breasts in a way which was entirely inappropriate and, the prosecution say, criminal in nature.’

Mr Gregory said that on one occasion Hallimond was playing basketball with the complainant and others when he grabbed her breasts while tackling her.

He said: ‘He grabbed her with both hands on her breasts and held his hands there for a short period of time, two or three seconds.’

The complainant told the court: ‘I was grabbed, it was obvious and it was awkward and it wasn't as if it was an accident, it was quite clearly what had happened.

‘It wasn't quick, it felt like it went on forever.’

Mr Gregory said that on one occasion Hallimond indicated that he had gone through her underwear drawer and ‘made it known he knew the colour of her underwear’.

The complainant said that Hallimond said to her in front of others: ‘It’s nice to see you have red underwear in your drawer’ making people in the room feel ‘awkward’.

Mr Gregory said that the defendant is accused of slapping the complainant's bottom in an office at HMS Devonport in Plymouth, the home port of HMS Richmond, as well as in a lift and on at least four other occasions. HMS Richmond was previously based at Portsmouth.

The complainant said that Hallimond would slap her bottom ‘on a daily basis’ and make ‘constant innuendos’ towards her such as calling her ‘big bum’ and asking her to show her underwear.

She said he slapped her when they were alone on a basketball court and added: ‘I felt uncomfortable and I couldn’t wait for someone else to come to the court so I wouldn't be alone.’

Mr Gregory said the defendant told police he had ‘done nothing wrong’ and said he might have touched the complainant’s bottom while playing basketball but it was accidental and non-sexual and any comments were ‘made in jest’.

He added the defendant said he would also ‘slap the bottoms of the guys as well’ during sport.

Hallimond denies the charges and the trial continues.