Drunk Household Cavalry soldier, 18, avoids jail after punching his pregnant friend, 17, in the stomach so hard he drew blood when they returned to his barracks after pub crawl
- Marc Thomson, 18, hit the 17-year-old victim so hard that she started bleeding
- Thomson claimed he was so drunk that he couldn’t remember the incident
- He admitted assault by beating and was ordered to pay £500 compensation
A drunken Household Cavalry soldier punched a pregnant woman in the stomach when they returned to his barracks after a pub crawl, a court heard.
Marc Thomson, 18, hit the teenage victim so hard in a play fight that she bled, Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard.
The pregnant 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, rushed to the toilet after the attack and spotted she was bleeding, the court heard.
Thomson later claimed he was so drunk he could not remember the incident at Hyde Park barracks in Knightsbridge.
He stood in the dock in a dark blue suit wearing the tie of his regiment – the Household Cavalry.
Marc Thomson (pictured), 18, hit the teenage victim so hard in a play fight that she bled, Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard
The soldier, who joined the army at age 16, spoke to confirm his name, address and date of birth.
He admitted assault by beating at the start of his trial.
Matthew Barrowcliffe, prosecuting, said: ‘The complainant at the time was 17 years of age, also pregnant at the time of the offence. The two were simply friends.
‘They had been out for a night out, they had been to various drinking establishments.
‘The defendant grabbed the complainant by the clothing having been annoyed and having a go at her.
‘There were two others outside smoking.
‘At one point the defendant punched the victim once in the stomach so she went to the toilet and discovered that she was bleeding as a result of the incident.’
Defending the Scot, Kane Sharpe said: ‘He was genuinely perplexed by the allegation.
‘He was drunk and has no real memory of the incident.’
Thomson later claimed he was so drunk he could not remember the incident at Hyde Park barracks (pictured) in Knightsbridge
Mr Sharpe said Thomson had just been ‘messing around’ and claimed the injury to the victim was not as harmful as has been suggested.
The barrister said: ‘This is without a doubt a reckless assault.
‘He has fallen from grace some might say after this reckless act under the influence.
‘It started off with play fighting and then went a little bit too far.’
Mr Sharpe said Thomson’s peers at the Household Cavalry described him as ‘kind’ and ‘shy’ and his superior officer spoke of him in ‘glowing terms’.
‘He will be dealt with in-house as well,’ said the soldier’s lawyer.
Bench chair Jeffrey Manton told the young squaddie: ‘A fine is not commensurate with punching a pregnant woman in the stomach.
‘No matter how many drinks you had, you cannot hit a pregnant woman in the stomach.
‘We hope this is put behind you and you’re able to move on.’
Thomson, of Hyde Park Barracks, admitted assault by beating.
He was given handed a community order and will be confined to barracks for two months from 6pm to 6am.
He was also ordered to pay £500 in compensation.
The disgraced soldier will also face disciplinary action at the Hyde Park Barracks where he could expect a punishment of up to 28 days confinement with military training at Colchester.