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Soldier accused of raping colleague admits verbally abusing her Soldier accused of raping colleague admits verbally abusing her
(about 1 hour later)
One of two soldiers accused of raping a female colleague has admitted that he verbally abused the woman following the alleged attack but insisted the sex was consensual.One of two soldiers accused of raping a female colleague has admitted that he verbally abused the woman following the alleged attack but insisted the sex was consensual.
Thomas Fulton expressed regret during his trial that he swore at Anne-Marie Ellement and called her a “slag” but he said he was shocked when rape charges were brought against him.Thomas Fulton expressed regret during his trial that he swore at Anne-Marie Ellement and called her a “slag” but he said he was shocked when rape charges were brought against him.
Fulton and Jeremy Jones, 28, deny raping Ellement at a German barracks in 2009, two years before Ellement, from Bournemouth, Dorset, died at the age of 30.Fulton and Jeremy Jones, 28, deny raping Ellement at a German barracks in 2009, two years before Ellement, from Bournemouth, Dorset, died at the age of 30.
The trial at the court martial centre in Bulford, Wiltshire, has been told that Ellement was found in the early hours of a November morning naked apart from a cardigan outside her accommodation block, crying and apparently drunk.The trial at the court martial centre in Bulford, Wiltshire, has been told that Ellement was found in the early hours of a November morning naked apart from a cardigan outside her accommodation block, crying and apparently drunk.
At the start of the defence case, Fulton told the court that he, Jones and Ellement had consensual sex following a night of drinking.At the start of the defence case, Fulton told the court that he, Jones and Ellement had consensual sex following a night of drinking.
He said Ellement’s claims that she was raped were “simply not true”. No charges were initially brought against the pair but following a review of evidence both men were accused after the alleged victim’s death. Asked about his reaction when he was charged, Fulton said: “I was in complete shock.”He said Ellement’s claims that she was raped were “simply not true”. No charges were initially brought against the pair but following a review of evidence both men were accused after the alleged victim’s death. Asked about his reaction when he was charged, Fulton said: “I was in complete shock.”
Fulton, who has since left the army and is studying for a degree, said the trio were in the corporals’ mess when a “threesome was discussed”. He said: “I recall having a conversation with Anne-Marie about engaging in a threesome. I think it was me who instigated the conversation but I cannot be 100%.” He said things “escalated” and they ended up in Jones’s room.Fulton, who has since left the army and is studying for a degree, said the trio were in the corporals’ mess when a “threesome was discussed”. He said: “I recall having a conversation with Anne-Marie about engaging in a threesome. I think it was me who instigated the conversation but I cannot be 100%.” He said things “escalated” and they ended up in Jones’s room.
The court heard that in an interview with the police, Fulton said: “I would never have slept with Anne-Marie on my own, but because it was Jez I thought it was funny. We were all laughing and joking all the way through.”The court heard that in an interview with the police, Fulton said: “I would never have slept with Anne-Marie on my own, but because it was Jez I thought it was funny. We were all laughing and joking all the way through.”
Under cross-examination, he said: “She kissed us and she instigated things. She consented the whole time.”Under cross-examination, he said: “She kissed us and she instigated things. She consented the whole time.”
Ellement told police she hurt her wrist because Fulton held her down during the threesome. But Fulton said she hurt herself when she punched a door frame.Ellement told police she hurt her wrist because Fulton held her down during the threesome. But Fulton said she hurt herself when she punched a door frame.
Fulton said Ellement left wearing his trousers. He followed her and shouted for her to give him his trousers back and swore at her. “I said something along the lines of ‘Give me back my fucking trousers’. She said no. I said ‘Stop being a cunt,” he said. Fulton said Ellement left wearing his trousers. He followed her and shouted for her to give him his trousers back and swore at her. “I said something along the lines of ‘Give me back my fucking trousers’. She said no. I said ‘Stop being a cunt’,” he said.
She took off the trousers in front of him and then walked towards her accommodation. Fulton said: “As she walked off I said ‘fuck off, you slag’.”She took off the trousers in front of him and then walked towards her accommodation. Fulton said: “As she walked off I said ‘fuck off, you slag’.”
He added: “I was frustrated she spoilt a really good night but looking back, I have no excuse. I should have walked Anne-Marie back to the block that night.”He added: “I was frustrated she spoilt a really good night but looking back, I have no excuse. I should have walked Anne-Marie back to the block that night.”
Fulton said it was not true that Ellement, who served with the Royal Military police, was later found distressed because she had been subjected to a sexual assault.Fulton said it was not true that Ellement, who served with the Royal Military police, was later found distressed because she had been subjected to a sexual assault.
A panel of civil servants and senior military officers has watched a lengthy video interview played to the court, in which Ellement said she would not have consented to sex with either of the men.A panel of civil servants and senior military officers has watched a lengthy video interview played to the court, in which Ellement said she would not have consented to sex with either of the men.
“I know that it’s a really serious thing and the outcome affects what happens in their lives and careers,” she said. “I don’t want to get someone accused of something they hadn’t done but I know that I didn’t want to have sex.”“I know that it’s a really serious thing and the outcome affects what happens in their lives and careers,” she said. “I don’t want to get someone accused of something they hadn’t done but I know that I didn’t want to have sex.”
Ellement said she remembered Tom “on top of me” and her saying “No, it’s really hurting.” She added: “The last thing I remember is Jez grabbing my breasts. Then I have a massive memory block and I can’t remember anything. I can’t remember how I got back to my accommodation.”Ellement said she remembered Tom “on top of me” and her saying “No, it’s really hurting.” She added: “The last thing I remember is Jez grabbing my breasts. Then I have a massive memory block and I can’t remember anything. I can’t remember how I got back to my accommodation.”
The court has not been told the circumstances of Ellement’s death in 2011.The court has not been told the circumstances of Ellement’s death in 2011.
But in an interview read to the court on Thursday, Fulton told officers: “I am really sorry she killed herself. I wish something had been done to help her. I wish she had got the help she needed but it wasn’t my responsibility. I’m having my life blown to pieces by this. She lied about this incident. I haven’t done anything wrong.”But in an interview read to the court on Thursday, Fulton told officers: “I am really sorry she killed herself. I wish something had been done to help her. I wish she had got the help she needed but it wasn’t my responsibility. I’m having my life blown to pieces by this. She lied about this incident. I haven’t done anything wrong.”
He added: “There was never one moment at all that she said ‘stop’ or ‘no’ or anything like that. If she did, we would have instantly stopped. We are not animals, we were all having a good time.”He added: “There was never one moment at all that she said ‘stop’ or ‘no’ or anything like that. If she did, we would have instantly stopped. We are not animals, we were all having a good time.”
The trial continues.The trial continues.