A major general who drunkenly touched and kissed a woman in a karaoke bar after she indicated she wanted him to stop has been dismissed from the army and given a six-month suspended prison sentence by a court martial board for his indecent behaviour.

Maj Gen James Roddis, 53, was leading a military delegation overseas when he made his unwanted advances, with the early part of the incident captured on camera with a mobile phone.

The married father of three, who was one of the pallbearers selected to carry Prince Philip’s coffin, admitted a charge of disgraceful conduct of an indecent kind and has been ordered to complete 30 days of rehabilitation and 150 hours’ unpaid work, and pay his victim £2,500 compensation.

He had previously been given an administrative sanction and forfeited his seniority as a major general for inappropriate conduct towards two female civil servants.

Imposing the sentence, judge advocate Gen Alan Large said that it was the major general’s duty “to remain in control of your actions”, not to get “so drunk that you could not read obvious signs”.

The judge added that although Roddis’s 29-year military career – he has been made an MBE and awarded several medals – had been “impressive” and “exemplary”, he had a poor service record in account of the previous incident of inappropriate conduct.

In 2023, two female civil servants had complained about Roddis’s conduct after an incident, again overseas, when he had asked “questions of a sexual nature” and “touched one of the females (in a way) that made her feel uncomfortable”.

The judge said: “The similarity with the nature of the incident we are dealing with and its proximity in time significantly increase the seriousness of your offending.”

The court martial in Bulford, Wiltshire, conducted by an air marshal, a major general and a commodore, heard how Roddis began to play with the complainant’s hair and pulled away her hair bobble, telling her “her hair looks better down”.

Graham Coombes, prosecuting, said: “You can see her raise her eyes and indicate her displeasure.”

Roddis and his victim could be seen in the lead-up to the incident in the background of the mobile-phone clip, which also shows another officer telling a story with “racist and homophobic overtones” as he poured a champagne fountain. At one point, the woman indicates with her finger for Roddis – who has been touching her hair – to stop.

The court heard how Roddis admitted that he kissed the woman a few minutes later in an episode not caught on camera. Roddis put his hands on her chin and kissed her on the lips for about two seconds.

The married woman later messaged her husband her thoughts about Roddis: “Just because you are a two-star general, you don’t get to touch me.”

The board heard that “under the influence of alcohol” Roddis thought the victim was “consenting” to what he was doing to her hair and that he only realised he had “overstepped the mark” when she did not respond to the kiss.

The next day, the woman asked to speak to Roddis in private on the flight home and told him his behaviour the previous evening was unacceptable.

“The accused apologised and replied: ‘I need to resign,’” Coombes said. “The accused asked her if she intended to make a formal complaint and if she did to tell him because he would need to resign.”

In a victim impact statement, the complainant, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, explained she feels she “did the right thing” in reporting Roddis.

“My main concern is how powerless I was that night. It has left me feeling vulnerable,” she said.

Jane Bickerstaff KC, defending, said Roddis had recently been diagnosed with alcohol dependency, having turned to drink as a “stress release” as he struggled to balance his career with difficulties in his family life.

An army spokesperson said afterwards: “This unacceptable behaviour by ex-Maj Gen Roddis fell well below the high standards expected of both our leaders and personnel and has no place in our armed forces.

“We’re determined to stamp out unacceptable behaviour.”

Roddis’s case highlights the ongoing struggle within the British armed forces to address issues of inappropriate conduct and sexual misconduct.

The military has been criticised for its handling of such cases in the past, with some arguing that there is a culture of impunity that allows for these behaviours to continue. However, there have been recent efforts to address these problems, including the introduction of new reporting mechanisms and support services for victims.

It remains to be seen whether these efforts will be successful in creating a truly safe and respectful environment for all members of the armed forces.

A Troubled History

Roddis’s case is not an isolated incident. In recent years, there have been a number of high-profile cases of sexual misconduct within the British armed forces. In 2021, Major General Nick Welch was convicted of school fees fraud and sentenced to 21 months in prison. He was the first Major General to face court martial since 1815.

The same year, Major General Chris Bell was ordered to resign for lying to his bosses about a relationship with a reservist in the secretive 77th Brigade, a psychological warfare unit.

These cases raise concerns about the effectiveness of the military’s disciplinary processes and its ability to hold senior officers accountable for their actions.

Moving Forward

The British armed forces are facing a number of challenges in the years ahead. As the world becomes increasingly complex and uncertain, the military will need to be able to adapt and evolve to meet new threats. This will require a strong and capable leadership that is able to inspire trust and confidence in its personnel.

To achieve this, the armed forces must continue to address the problem of inappropriate conduct and sexual misconduct. This will require a comprehensive approach that includes prevention, education, and accountability.

The armed forces must also create a culture of respect and inclusion where all members feel safe and valued. This will require a commitment to diversity and equality and a willingness to challenge outdated norms and practices.

Only by taking these steps will the British armed forces be able to maintain its position as a world-leading military force and ensure that it continues to attract and retain the best and brightest talent.

The Need for Change

The Roddis case is a stark reminder of the need for change within the British armed forces. The military must take action to address the problem of inappropriate conduct and sexual misconduct and create a culture of respect and inclusion.

The future of the British armed forces depends on it.