Chaplain denies sex assault

An Army chaplain accused of molesting a soldier's wife described the allegations as "fabrication and lies" made up by a "woman scorned", a court martial heard yesterday.

Captain Richard Landall, 41, said his job was the most important thing in his life. "I would never jeopardise my job, my vocation in any way, shape or form."

He told the hearing of rumours that the woman he was alleged to have indecently assaulted had been having affairs while her husband was in Bosnia and that during one of them she had become pregnant and had an abortion.

Landall denies harassing Mrs Brazier, harassing her husband Fusilier Sean Brazier and four charges of indecently assaulting another soldier's wife.

The Judge Advocate ordered the panel to find him not guilty of a further charge of prejudice unbecoming the conduct of an officer. A third charge of harassment was discontinued by the prosecution. The hearing was adjourned until 27 May.

John Sheehan and Paul Edwards, PA News