A British Army warrant officer, who made history as the service's first female Master Tailor, is facing a court martial on charges of indecent conduct. Warrant Officer Emma Colton, 39, is accused of repeatedly pinching a subordinate's bottom and engaging in inappropriate behavior while stationed on the Falkland Islands.
Colton, who specializes as a senior bespoke tailor and is responsible for upholding dress standards in a ceremonial unit, denies two counts of disgraceful conduct of an indecent kind at Bulford Military Court in Wiltshire. The court martial heard that Colton allegedly followed a male sergeant, who was her subordinate, and poked him in the bottom while he was exercising in the gym, then 'giggled' about the incident.
The sergeant testified that Colton also bought him gifts, including Lindt chocolates, strawberries, and a scented candle, which he found inappropriate and "a bit weird." He stated that while Colton was initially friendly, the interactions became uncomfortable after she began following him and touching him inappropriately.
"She grabbed my a*** a few times, she pinched my a***," the sergeant told investigators, adding that junior soldiers believed they were romantically involved, which he denied. He recounted an incident in the gym where Colton allegedly "stuck her finger in my bum." When he confronted her, she reportedly said, "you should've moved faster." He stated he felt "potentially violated a little bit but not raped."
According to court testimony, a colleague witnessed Colton pinching the sergeant's bottom in November 2024. The sergeant reported the incidents to his commanding officer in February 2025, months after they occurred, and Colton was interviewed under caution in June 2025.
In her defense, Colton stated that she and the sergeant had a professional relationship that soured after his promotion, becoming abrasive. She claimed she found him unattractive and is in a long-term relationship with plans for IVF. Colton suggested she bought him gifts for his birthday, as he had mentioned everyone had forgotten it, and expressed shock at the accusations, feeling they were made "viciously."
Colton became the Army's first Master Tailor within the Royal Horse Artillery, a role requiring frontline soldier training combined with advanced tailoring skills. She was later deployed to the Falkland Islands with the 47 Regiment of the Royal Artillery, where the alleged incidents took place. The trial is ongoing.