Indecent assault leads to soldier's dismissal

Drunken ramblings through a women's barracks and an indecent assault have led to six months' detention and dismissal from the Army for a young soldier.

Private Shannon Haimona Goldsmith, 20, faced a court-martial at Linton Camp on Monday over a series of incidents at Waiouru on June 11, 2004.

Initially, he faced seven charges, but two were withdrawn at the request of prosecutor Captain Matt Harding.

Goldsmith pleaded guilty to one charge of indecent assault, three of failure to comply with written orders (that male personnel stay out of the women's barracks) and one of drunkenness.

Captain Harding read an agreed statement of fact in which Goldsmith admitted climbing into bed with three sleeping women, one of whom he touched indecently.

The woman, then aged 18, woke and told him to get out. He stumbled from the room, calling her a "slut" and a "skank" before collapsing in the corridor and going to sleep.

The woman used her cellphone to take his photograph to use as evidence. Goldsmith woke the next day in his own bed, claiming to have little memory of what had happened.

Captain Harding said that, on "payday Thursday", Goldsmith went drinking with friends after dinner and returned to his barracks drunk. In the early hours, he entered the women's barracks, where four soldiers shared each room, and committed the offences.

The woman he admitted indecently touching made a victim impact statement in which she said that since the assault her self-confidence had been shattered and was she seriously considering resigning from the service.

In arguing for a prison sentence, Captain Harding said Goldsmith's actions should not be dismissed as the drunken antics of a young man.

"It is far more serious than that," he said. "His drunken state was no excuse. It might explain his actions, but it does not condone them."

Duncan Harvey, representing Goldsmith, said the actions had been completely out of character for his client.

"Whilst alcohol was not a mitigating factor, it does explain what happened," he said.

The Judge advocate was John Rowan QC and the president of the military panel was Major Anthony Blythen.