Angry Army Captain who kicked Sandhurst cadet fined £600 in court martial

A HIGHLY regarded Army instructor kicked a Sandhurst cadet who kept making errors, a court martial heard.

Captain Ruth Cork, 35, lost her temper then booted the kneeling trainee, saying: “Get a grip.”

Officer Cadet Charles MacAllister did not report the incident as he thought it was part of the Army.

But Capt Cork was hauled to a court martial and fined £600.

In March 2021 she was leading a field exercise for recruits 12 weeks into training, with OC MacAllister acting as platoon commander.

But he repeatedly made mistakes as he delivered radio messages.

The court heard OC MacAllister “was on both knees and looked to her for guidance” but “the more he got wrong, the angrier Capt Cork got”.

She was pacing up and down then told him “Come on” and kicked him.

Prosecutor Cmdr Peter Barker told Bulford Military Court, Wilts: “Witnesses describe seeing the cadet wobble and being shocked and angry, but nobody raised it. Capt Cork did not apologise.”

A welfare officer later reported the incident.

Capt Cork told investigators she could not remember the kick.

The court heard cadets took exception to her style and relations were strained.

Defence barrister Matthew Simpson said Capt Cork was now remorseful at the “one-off” incident — an “overzealous attempt to reinforce training”.

He said no one was injured and Capt Cork had been under stress from a family tragedy and the pandemic.

She admitted the offence on the first day of her trial.

Fining her, Judge Advocate General Darren Reed said: “Instructing trainees is a testing role and requires a level of robustness not found in the civilian world.

“However, those being put through that environment deserve respect and dignity. This was an abuse of position.”

Capt Cork, who has medals from Iraq and Syria, was said to be “essential” at Sandhurst, Berkshire.

She plans to leave the Army next month to become a project manager.