A British Army Lance Corporal has been charged with rape while serving in Cyprus, the Defence Serious Crime Command (DSCC) announced. Lance Corporal Nicholas Horne faces one count of rape, with the charge dated October 23. The DSCC confirmed Horne, who serves with the 4th Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland based at Akrotiri and Dhekelia, was arrested on October 19.
The arrest followed an investigation by the DSCC's Major Crime Team in conjunction with Service Police partners, after the alleged rape of a woman serving in the British Forces Cyprus was reported on October 17. Lance Corporal Horne was remanded in custody pending a court-martial hearing.
The incident occurs amid ongoing efforts within the military to address and reduce sexual offenses and misconduct. Recent years have seen several high-profile cases prompting increased scrutiny. In January, a large-scale police investigation was initiated following reports of approximately 500 individuals alleging sexual abuse during military medical examinations over nearly five decades, primarily at UK bases between the 1970s and 2016. Furthermore, a Ministry of Defence survey last year revealed that nearly two-thirds of women in the armed forces had experienced lewd behavior from colleagues, including non-consensual sexual activity. The DSCC encourages anyone affected by sexual offenses within the armed forces to contact them for support.