NATO air chief told to ‘tread carefully’ around booze after being cleared of trying to snog Army captain
A NATO air chief has been advised to “tread carefully” around alcohol in future after he was cleared of trying to snog an Army captain.
Wing Commander Jolyon Goodwin had denied forcing his tongue into the Scandinavian officer’s mouth at a boozy fancy dress bash in Germany.
He told his court martial he “misread her values” after downing shots and “steady away” beers — insisting: “It was just a stupid moment.”
The RAF boss said: “The kiss was on the lips and it was just a ‘mwah’. It was the sort of kiss you would give your mate’s wife who you know quite well.”
He went on: “There were lots of mentions of me sticking my tongue down her throat. I didn’t do that. I don’t even do that to my wife.”
Wg Cdr Goodwin was pushed away by his alleged victim at the event at Kaiserslautern football stadium and told to f*** off in “no uncertain terms”.
He later told a colleague: “F***ing hell, I get like this when I am drinking. I have to stop drinking, I am f***ing my life up.”
Wg Cdr Goodwin — who is stationed at the Allied Air Command HQ at Ramstein Air Base in south west Germany — was cleared of sexual assault after a three-day hearing.
Judge Advocate Edward Legard said: “This last year or so has not been easy for the complainant or for yourself.
“I hope this verdict will help you recalibrate the challenges in your professional and personal life.”
But he added: “One word of warning from the bench. Tread carefully please in future, particularly where alcohol is in abundance.”
Wg Cdr Goodwin, who is a training chief for Nato and British forces, is now free to rejoin his unit.