Royal Navy sailors broke US seaman's nose after drunk night out in Japan while HMS Albion deployed in Far East

A pair of Royal Navy sailors attacked an American seaman after he told them to stop messing about following a drunken night out in Japan, a court martial heard.
HMS Albion was deployed in the Far East earlier this year when the incident happened. Picture: PO PHOT Dave Jenkins/ Royal NavyHMS Albion was deployed in the Far East earlier this year when the incident happened. Picture: PO PHOT Dave Jenkins/ Royal Navy
HMS Albion was deployed in the Far East earlier this year when the incident happened. Picture: PO PHOT Dave Jenkins/ Royal Navy

Able Seamen Benjamin Calveley and Jack Styring punched Petty Officer Josue Reyna - a US sailor - and broke his nose.

In a statement the victim compared his attackers to American YouTube star Logan Paul - claiming the men used Japan as a '˜dumping ground', with Mr Paul controversially filming the body of apparent suicide victim and sharing it online. 

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Calveley, 24, and Styring, 22, were serving as engineers on the Plymouth based HMS Albion during it's ten-month deployment in the far East, the court heard.

HMS Albion was deployed in the Far East earlier this year when the incident happened. Picture: PO PHOT Dave Jenkins/ Royal NavyHMS Albion was deployed in the Far East earlier this year when the incident happened. Picture: PO PHOT Dave Jenkins/ Royal Navy
HMS Albion was deployed in the Far East earlier this year when the incident happened. Picture: PO PHOT Dave Jenkins/ Royal Navy

While stationed in Sasebo, Japan on May 20, US Navy Petty Officer Mr Reyna told the two men to 'stop messing around' while they were walking along the street after a night out.

Read More
HMS Queen Elizabeth: Six '˜drunk' British Royal Navy sailors arrested in Florida...

The men reacted badly to the comment, following Mr Reyna along the street, Bulford Military Court heard.

Styring, from Stockton-On-Tee, County Durham, approached the sailor, shouting 'You want something?', before his colleague Calveley, from Chester, Cheshire, punched him in the nose.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Reyna tried to walk away from the scene but was followed by the British sailors.

Styring continued to hurl abuse at the American, and was forced to be held back by Calveley when he squared up to him.

Calveley admitted assaulting the American sailor (ABH), while Styring admitted verbal assault.

Reading Mr Reyna's statement, Lieutenant Commander Andy Huntley revealed that Mr Reyna 'wished he had retaliated'.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The statement read: 'I didn't have an opinion on the British until this incident - I knew we served as allies and fight the same enemies but nothing more.

'I told them to stop messing around in the street because they were being embarrassing.

'They started following me and one of them punched me in the nose - fracturing it.

'Since that event I have been affected - I have struggled to come to terms with the event and have anger towards them.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

'When I got back to my ship I played it off that it wasn't a big deal, but when I took time to reflect I was very upset.

'I sometimes wish I had fought back rather than walking away.

'I compare them to American Logan Paul - he filmed a dead body while he was in Japan in January.

'˜He used Japan as a dumping ground just like these sailors did.'

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The court heard that both men were 'deeply remorseful' and wrote a letter of apology to Petty Officer Reyna.

Mitigating, Lieutenant Commander John Huntley said the behaviour was 'completely out of character' of the men.

Both sailors also put money aside to cover compensation for the American sailor, the court heard.

Calveley will serve a 90-day detention, while Styring was given a 60-day service supervision order.

Both men will pay compensation to Josue Reyna.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Sentencing, Judge Advocate Alistair McGrigor said: 'The matter in this case involves an assault of an American sailor after a night out and you were intoxicated.

'When Petty Officer Reyna asked you to stop messing around you turned aggressive towards him - despite the fact he was alone and was making no physical threat towards you.

'Calevley, you punched Reyna in the face, fracturing his nose and requiring a local anaesthetic.

'Styring, you were verbally aggressive towards him and had to be held back by your colleague.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

'Being violent towards our allies, and on allied soil, can lead to embarrassment and lack of trust next time we are deployed to that location.'

HMS Albion left Britain in February, visiting Vietnam, Japan, South Korea and Borneo before returning to Plymouth last Friday.