A GULF WAR veteran was fined £750 and severely reprimanded by a court martial at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, yesterday, after he admitted using his sergeant's bank card to pay for a school trip for his daughter.
Lance Bombardier Richard Davidson was told it was only the circumstances surrounding the offences and his obvious remorse which saved him from more serious punishment.
Captain Atholl Finlayson, prosecuting, told the court the card was in a wallet, which went missing during a PT session at Catterick Garrison.
Davidson claimed he found it but, rather than handing it in, used it to buy petrol and obtain £100 in cash through cash-back transactions at the Tesco superstore nearby.
He was found out when the withdrawals were spotted on CCTV at Tesco.
Yesterday, he admitted four charges of deception - committed on Friday, October 13, last year.
Chris Bunting, defending, said Davidson, serving with the 5th Regiment, Royal Artillery, had taken the money to pay for a school trip for his daughter who, he was determined, should not be affected by difficulties the family were facing at the time.
Judge Advocate Colin Burn told Davidson the court accepted he was guilty of an act of "stupidity rather than malicious dishonesty" and his unblemished 12-year career was also to his credit.
"However, you have to accept we have to set an example to deter others and have decided that a fine is appropriate. A severe reprimand is certainly less of a punishment than being reduced to the ranks."
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