Married Army instructor, 36, who gave female recruits special privileges in return for ‘favours’ and told one he’d pay for her takeaway if she let him squeeze her bottom, is fired

• Married Bombardier Elan Joseph bought ‘impressionable young recruits’ alcohol
• The 36-year-old instructor also handed out his phone number to female trainee
• Incidents happened working at Larkhill Royal School of Artillery near Salisbury 
• He was accused in Court Martial of 13 charges relating to five female recruits
• Admitted nine charges of contravening standing orders and prejudicial conduct

A British Army instructor who granted female trainees special privileges in return for ‘favours’ and told one he would pay for her takeaway if she let him squeeze her bottom has been fired.

Married father-of-two Bombardier Elan Joseph bought ‘impressionable young recruits’ bottles of vodka and Southern Comfort.

He also sent a message to one recruit, said to be from a traveller background, saying: ‘If I grab you by the hair that will make you mine’ – a reference to a courtship ritual adopted by some traveller groups.

The 36-year-old, who has served in the armed forces for over 13 years, was convicted of telling another to ‘get up and walk’ so he could ‘look at her arse’ whilst she was wearing pyjamas.

He also ‘crossed the line’ by handing his phone number to female trainees and collecting takeaways for them, a court martial heard.

Bdr Joseph, an instructor at the Larkhill Royal School of Artillery near Salisbury, Wilts, was accused of 13 charges relating to five young female recruits. 

He pleaded guilty to nine charges of contravening standing orders and prejudicial conduct.

Bdr Joseph, an instructor at the Larkhill Royal School of Artillery (pictured) near Salisbury, Wilts, was accused of 13 charges relating to five young female recruits. He pleaded guilty to nine charges of contravening standing orders and prejudicial conduct

A court martial cleared him of one charge of sexual assault by touching and another of entering a female recruit’s room and touching her feet as she slept.

But he was convicted of two other charges of agreeing to let a trainee meet her boyfriend ‘after bed check’ in return for a ‘favour’ and telling another to ‘get up and walk’ so he could ‘look at her arse’ while she was wearing pyjamas. 

Bdr Joseph, who is originally from the Caribbean island of Saint Vincent, has now been dismissed from the armed forces and given an 18-month community order.

At Bulford Military Court, Wilts, Judge Advocate Alistair McGrigor told him he had ‘crossed the line’ in his relationships with the ‘impressionable’ young recruits.

The Larkhill Royal School of Artillery, where Bdr Joseph taught, serves as the Army’s principal training establishment for artillery warfare. 

Judge McGrigor said: ‘Initial training starts the recruits on their army career – so it is essential it remains balanced and impartial.

‘You knew you had to be extremely careful not to cross the line between looking after the recruits and having personal relationships with them.

‘In this case the recruits were young and female, and young recruits are impressionable. There were sexual connotations in your behaviour.

‘We understand that the sentence will put you and your family at risk of deportation [to St Vincent], but your behaviour was such that you cannot remain in the service and must be dismissed.’

Prosecutor Rupert Gregory told the sentencing hearing: ‘The matters Bdr Joseph is convicted of are fairly self explanatory.

‘Giving out his telephone number [to young recruits]; collecting takeaway food and offering to squeeze [a trainee’s] ‘arse’ in lieu of payment…

‘Buying bottles of [Southern Comfort and vodka] and taking [one recruit] off camp when she was not allowed.

‘He also sent a text message to a trainee of traveller heritage, saying “If I grab you by the hair that will make you mine”, [alluding to] a custom in traveller heritage.’

Tom Wilkins, defending, had argued Bdr Joseph, of the 19th Regiment Royal Artillery – also known as The Scottish Gunners – should be allowed to ‘soldier on’.

Mr Wilkins said: ‘He has had an exemplary service up until now.

‘He has two children and wishes to continue serving in the Royal Artillery – his heart is in the army.

‘Bdr Joseph could still provide valuable service, and could be managed in a role where he is not training young recruits. He should be allowed to soldier on.’

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