Former Navy officer jailed for sexual assault

A former Royal Navy officer has been jailed for a "planned and predatory" sexual assault.

Lt Cdr John Cursiter, 46, has been sentenced to 33 months in prison for sexually assaulting and falsely imprisoning a sailor and for possessing cocaine, the Service Prosecuting Authority said.

The former submarine officer assaulted the "vulnerable young man" in his room at HMS Drake on the Navy's Devonport base in Plymouth in November 2022.

Judge Advocate Legard described the attack as an "ambush". He added: "The sexual assault was planned and predatory: a senior officer targeted a young rating who was vulnerable, with the offence facilitated through drink and drugs."

Legard said the court martial board was satisfied Cursiter had used alcohol and drugs to render the victim "incapable" so he could assault him.

The judge said: "Your behaviour was inexcusable and represents a breach of the values and standards of the Armed Forces… Your disgraceful conduct fell well below the standards to be expected of an officer of your rank."

Cursiter, who was found guilty of the charges after a court martial trial on May 28, will serve half of his sentence in custody.

He has been dismissed with disgrace from His Majesty's service and placed on the sex offenders register.

Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.