An Army female officer shared her horror with a court martial about how a Colonel made her kiss his goodnight, then rub her backside in an entire room of ranks.
The woman has accused her former boss, Colonel Martin Toney, 57, of sexual assault in a function room at the Trolltun Guesthouse hotel in the ski resort of Dombås, Norway, when Col Toney was a lieutenant colonel.
According to her, the attack occurred during the closing evening of Army Medical Service’s Nordic Ski Championships held in December 2012.
When she was asked about Col Toney’s experiences, which has been 36 years of service with the British Army for the past 36 years, she replied: “I will forever remember the feeling of his hands upon me.”
Court martial learned that the alleged incident took place at a drink party, following an all-ranks Scandinavian feast to close out the ski training camp.
Col. Martin Toney is charged with sexually assaulting the victim in an office full of Army colleagues. He has had a career of 36 years in Army.
Unidentified former major claims that she was “completely sober” during festivities, as alcohol was expensive and few people were drinking.
Col Toney, who was sitting in a conference chair alone, said that she would like to “to politely depart” after about an hour.
He said, “Give me a kiss goodbye.” She agreed. His final words were, “Give us a kiss goodbye,” which left me completely confused.
“We had a relationship in which I wouldn’t give my husband a goodbye kiss.”
“It was very clearly stated as a command.
He said, “It would be rude not too so I bent down to kiss him goodbye cheek by cheek.” He turned to meet it, and he kissed him.
“He put his hands on my bottom, and then rubbed it with quite a bit of force. This was more than a passing touch. It was an intense feeling of my bottom.
The dress was a Nordic-style knitted cotton Nordic dress that she was wearing was comfortable but not too thick.
Col Toney was a lieutenant colonel when at the ski resort of Dombås, Norway, pictured (file photo)
“It seemed like it went on forever,” she said. While it was only 10-15 seconds long, it felt almost like a minute.
“He thoroughly touched my bottom.”
He felt her hand “moving slowly”. She added, “I was only frozen during this.”
“I was so embarrassed. “I just wanted to leave the room quickly.
“I felt degraded and humiliated. I would normally tell someone to f**k off. But I can’t tell him to f**k off because he is a senior officer.
“He has decades of military experience.
‘I am not some naïve 18-year-old, it is not the first time I have had inappropriate sexual contact – but it was the only time with a senior officer.’
The hearing, at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, expected to conclude tomorrow, continues. Pictured are the single living accommodation blocks (file photograph).
Although she had previously experienced “messy high jinks”, this one was different because she saw more junior soldiers, which made the experience ‘a lot worse.
She continued, “My rank did not mean anything because you could treat me like an object.”
At the same time, she was in a relationship and didn’t want people to believe that she was cheating on her husband.
Col Toney confided in a female friend what happened. Col Toney was then interviewed by police, who cautioned her but never denied that anything had been done.
This afternoon the Colonel, 57 years old, testified that the incident at Trolltun Hotel never happened.
He served as the chief officer of the adventure training camp, and was also the director for the cross-country skiing exercise in which 64 participants were engaged.
The man stated that he was a regular attendee of the event for twelve years. However, he couldn’t remember any final dinners on a sour note. But he will recall them because they are always fun.
Unidentified former Major claims that she was “completely sober” during festivities, as alcohol was expensive and few people were drinking. The sign that welcomes drivers to Catterick Garrison’s military town is shown (file photo).
“It didn’t happen.” This is something that I wouldn’t do.
“I have no idea why she’s saying that.” It wasn’t my intention.
David Richards, the defense barrister, told his victim in cross-examination that a lieutenant colonel couldn’t order him to kiss him.
“It felt like an ord.” She responded.
“He felt he had the right to touch my body because he was senior than me. It was what actually happened.
This hearing will conclude at Catterick Garrison (North Yorkshire) tomorrow.