Bombardier Michael Murley has been sentenced to eight years in prison after being found guilty of one count of rape. The sentence was handed down at Bulford Military Court in Wiltshire.
Assistant Judge Advocate General John Atwill also dismissed Murley from the military and reduced him to the rank of Gunner. The conviction stems from an incident that occurred in 2024, on the morning of the victim's birthday.
According to the prosecution, the woman had been celebrating with friends the evening before, as her birthday was the following day. She and Murley had consensual sexual relations that evening. The next morning, she left Murley in bed to attend a weigh-in for a tug of war competition. Upon her return, Murley attempted to initiate sex with her.
The victim repeatedly told Murley "no," but he proceeded with the assault, stating, "I would have finished by now if you just let me do it." She tried to resist and escape his grip, but Murley pinned her down and pushed her head. The court heard that she continued to plead with him to stop and tried to push him away.
Following the attack, the woman was left in a state of shock. Murley reportedly left the room as if nothing had happened, mentioning he had another date planned for that evening.
Later that day, the victim confided in her colleagues about the incident and was subsequently referred to a sexual assault referral center. During a police interview, Murley initially claimed no sexual activity had occurred that morning and later denied the rape.
Bombardier is a rank in the Royal Artillery equivalent to a Corporal in other branches of the British Army.