RAF faces criticism for mishandling officer's misconduct

A military judge has criticized the Royal Air Force (RAF) for mishandling complaints against a married senior officer accused of groping colleagues. Squadron Leader Andrew Crosby faced allegations of inappropriate behavior, including forcefully groping two co-workers and making unwanted advances toward a civilian bar worker. The incidents occurred during a military dining event while Crosby was reportedly drunk. He pleaded guilty to multiple counts of disgraceful conduct and has been sentenced to 41 weeks in jail, along with being dismissed from the RAF. The court martial revealed that Crosby's superiors did not act promptly when the complaints were first made. Judge Edward Legard expressed disappointment in the chain of command for their lack of action. He noted that they initially responded with only minor administrative measures. "They dragged their feet," he said, pointing out that this happened before a new zero-tolerance policy was established in the military. Testimonies from victims described feelings of shock and humiliation. One victim stated that he experienced significant emotional trauma, which led him to leave the RAF. Judge Legard stated that Crosby's behavior was especially troubling because it targeted junior colleagues and a civilian in his direct command. Crosby, who has over 33 years of military experience, appeared contrite but claimed he had no memory of the night due to potential spiking of his drinks. Judge Legard stated that this case is a stark reminder of the impact such actions can have on victims and the need for the military to handle these complaints seriously.