Royal Navy cook abused male colleague after luring him into ship’s scullery but is spared a prison sentence after a military court found he was ‘confused about his sexuality’

• AB Pritchard, 23, received a two-year suspended sentence following his conviction
• He was also thrown out of the Navy and ordered to pay his victim £1,000
• His victim had suicidal thoughts and still suffers from “flashbacks”

A Royal Navy cook lured his colleague into the scullery of a warship, locked the door and then sexually abused him, a court martial heard.

Able Seaman Liam Pritchard told his victim, whom he had already groped on another occasion, that he wanted to meet because he was suffering from a “bad mood”.

The sailor, whose name is to remain anonymous, “reluctantly” agreed to meet the 23-year-old in the scullery of HMS Northumberland because he wanted to “help” him.

But when he got there, he was imprisoned and mistreated by AB Pritchard.

Over a period of 45 minutes, the “persistent” Navy chef subjected his colleague to an “extended detention” by asking him to kiss him, hug him and grab his butt.

AB Pritchard was convicted of the attack following a trial earlier this year and is said to be “confused about his sexuality”.

Now he has been thrown out of the Navy, given a two-year suspended sentence and ordered to pay his victim £1,000.

Bulford Military Court in Wiltshire heard that AB Pritchard – who joined the Navy in March 2022 – worked as a cook on the Type 23 frigate last year.

The ship conducts a range of maritime security operations, including counter-piracy, escort duties and boarding operations.

It was heard that after AB Pritchard met his victim, who also worked on the ship, the two began exchanging messages on Snapchat.

His colleague was “open about his sexuality” and was under the impression that the cook was heterosexual, said deputy military attorney Jane England.

Last year, the cook reportedly gave the sailor a “consensual” kiss while drunk on board the ship.

The judge described an incident that occurred last summer.

AB Pritchard sat opposite his victim and began to “touch his leg” with his leg before walking over and grabbing his crotch ten times.

The victim was “surprised” by what had happened.

The judge told AB Pritchard: “He sent you a message saying what you did was wrong. That should have been a warning to you.”

Later that month, AB Pritchard messaged his victim asking to meet to discuss his mental health and “poor mood.”

His shipmate “reluctantly agreed” to a meeting because he “wanted to help,” the judge said.

She explained: “When he was in the scullery, you locked the door and took the key out. That was his only chance of escape.”

The judge said the two had been talking and AB Pritchard had “repeatedly” asked his colleague for another kiss, but the latter had refused.

While locked in the room, the 23-year-old asked his colleague for a hug, to which the latter “finally” agreed.

But the sailor “took advantage of this” and “tried to undress him,” it was said.

He put his thumbs in his belt and felt his butt over his pants.

“You were persistent and, in his view, quite aggressive,” the judge told AB Pritchard.

The cook finally let his victim go.

It was heard that AB Pritchard’s victim suffered from depression and suicidal thoughts following the attack in July last year.

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In a statement, he said: “I felt as if the life I once had had been taken away from me and I would never return to my former normal self.”

“These incidents isolated me from my family and friends because I felt like I couldn’t talk to them about it out of shame.”

He said the events had had a “massive impact” on his personal life and career, and he still suffers from “flashbacks” of the events.

Prosecutor Lieutenant Colonel Emma Whiting said the sailors suffered panic attacks after the incident and felt “unsafe” on board.

In mitigation, Michael Green expressed the view that AB Pritchard “continues to deny these offences”.

He said: “What happened on board was an unusual chain of circumstances.”

“A young man, just turned 22 at the time, who was perhaps uncertain about his sexuality – who was perhaps uncertain about a consensual kiss.”

The attorney referred to a probation report that speculated that AB Pritchard’s actions were “misguided attempts to figure out his sexuality.”

Mr Green said the offence itself was “short-lived”, although the pair spent 35 to 45 minutes in the scullery.

He said AB Pritchard was “someone who worked hard during his time on board”, “impressed his superiors” and also had “real talent and a real passion for cooking”.

AB Pritchard pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual assault but was found guilty in a trial earlier this year.

Now the cook has been discharged from the Royal Navy and sentenced to six years in prison, suspended for two years.

Judge England told the cook: “You sexually assaulted him twice and it was clear he did not want it.”

She said: “There is more to seafaring than just being good at your job,” and that includes treating colleagues “with respect.”

“You didn’t do that,” she said.

She said of the victim: “I hope that with time and help he will realise that he is not to blame for these crimes and that he has nothing to be ashamed of.”

AB Pritchard will pay his victim £1,000 compensation, complete 180 hours of unpaid work and attend a rehabilitation activity for 30 days.