BRIAN COURT FROM ANDOVER AND EASTLEIGH JAILED FOR INDECENT ASSAULT ON HAMPSHIRE ARMY CADETS

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the local community, Brian Court, a 44-year-old former leader of Hampshire's Army Cadets, has been convicted of multiple counts of indecent assault and subsequently sentenced to four years in prison. The allegations against Court, who previously resided in Andover and was associated with the Eastleigh area, date back to the early 1990s, a period during which he was entrusted with the care and guidance of young cadets.

According to court proceedings, Court faced accusations of four separate counts of indecently assaulting three different cadets. The jury was informed that Court would often provide alcohol to the young boys before subjecting them to abuse. Despite the severity of the charges, Court was found not guilty of one of the four counts, but the remaining three charges resulted in his conviction and a four-year prison sentence at Southampton Crown Court.

The investigation into Court’s conduct was initiated after one former cadet, identified only as Darren, came forward to police, revealing that he had been subjected to abuse during his time in the cadet force. Following Darren’s disclosure, two other former cadets also stepped forward, sharing similar allegations of misconduct and abuse.

In a candid out-of-court statement, Darren described the emotional toll of the abuse, saying, “When I became aware something unnatural was going on it was a very, very scary situation that actually put a cold fear inside me. I’ve had moments when I’ve felt very strong hatred and I’ve had moments when I’ve tried to forgive, but I don’t have any sympathy.”

The court heard that Court, who was employed by the Ministry of Defence and later rose to the rank of colonel, used his position to lure young cadets into his flat, located on Desborough Road in Eastleigh. There, he would serve alcohol to the boys and then proceed to touch them inappropriately. One of the victims recounted that Court invited cadets to spend the night at his flat, claiming he needed help with jobs the following day. During the night, the victim and a friend changed into dressing gowns, only to be subjected to inappropriate touching while seated in Court’s living room. The abuse reportedly continued even after the victim had fallen asleep on a camp bed next to Court’s own bed.

The case was brought to light after a former cadet reported the abuse to police, which led to Court’s arrest. The subsequent investigation uncovered multiple allegations, with two additional former cadets coming forward to share their own experiences of abuse during their teenage years. The court’s verdict underscores the serious nature of the crimes committed by Brian Court and highlights the importance of safeguarding vulnerable young individuals from exploitation and abuse.