RAF squadron chief will serve 9 months for intercourse assault that led sufferer to attempt to kill herself

An ‘entitled’ RAF squadron Chief will serve simply 9 months in jail for subjecting a fellow RAF officer to a degrading sexual assault which drove her to attempt to hill herself.

Oliver Bayliss, 36, confirmed no regret for the assault at a social event in January 2022, telling a probation employee he didn’t must assault his sufferer as a result of he was extra engaging than her.

The navy court docket at Catterick heard that he boasted: ‘I might get extra women than she might males.’

His sufferer stated she felt ‘ostracised’ by the air power, whereas her attacker was allowed to proceed his duties as regular.

She stated she was ordered to do business from home after elevating issues that their paths may cross within the line of obligation and 6 months after the assault she tried to take her personal life.

Though Bayliss, a married father, was thought of a possible danger to grownup girls and displayed a ‘worrying angle’ in direction of them, he had his sentence diminished from the two-year place to begin to 18 months.

Part of the rationale for this was his distinguished profession, which noticed him on lively service in Afghanistan, Iraq and West Africa.

He was advised he would serve half his sentence, which shall be served in a civilian jail after being cleared by way of the navy jail at Colchester earlier than he was eligible for launch.

A tearful Bayliss, of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, shook his head as he was marched from the court docket after being dismissed from the RAF in shame.

His sufferer learn out a private assertion concerning the trauma she suffered by way of a video hyperlink.

She stated: ‘Being ordered to do business from home afterwards whereas the person who assaulted me continued to be in his workplace left me feeling ostracised.

‘I felt as if I had no management over my life. I used to be identified with put up traumatic stress dysfunction and had nightmares concerning the assault which left me feeling exhausted.

‘I felt like a burden to my household and buddies and because of the affect of the sexual assault I tried suicide in June once I felt I might now not cope.’

Whereas Bayliss was thought of a possible danger to grownup girls, he had his sentence diminished from the two-year place to begin to 18 months. Pictured: Oliver Bayliss

She wanted emergency hospital therapy within the wake of the suicide try, the listening to was advised.

The sufferer added: ‘The one glimmer of a silver lining is that I hope this has taught Oliver Bayliss that he can not behave in that means.’

The court docket heard that the assault came about as Bayliss’s sufferer tried to get away from him when she noticed his marriage ceremony ring.

They weren’t identified to one another after they met on the night time out at a navy base within the south of England, the place Bayliss was celebrating his promotion to Squadron Chief.

After speaking, they went outdoors and commenced kissing, however at that time the feminine officer observed he was sporting a marriage ring and pulled away from him, intending to return into the mess corridor.

It was then that Bayliss thrust his hand up her skirt and sexually assaulted her, inflicting her to flee the occasion along with her buddies in a state of misery.

The assault left her feeling ‘filthy and disgusting’ and she or he went to the police to report it the next day.

Bayliss claimed the sexual contact had been consensual and that the lady had instigated it, denying the offence of assault by penetration and forcing her to present proof in a trial.

Nonetheless, he was discovered responsible by the court docket martial board, who discovered the sufferer’s account that she had not wished to be with a married man, truthful.

Assistant Decide Advocate Common Edward Legard advised Bayliss: ‘The Board is troubled by your absence of regret or understanding.

‘There was a component of sufferer blaming and minimisation of your actions and you’ve got proven an unwarranted sense of entitlement.’

Bayliss, of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, (far left) shook his head as he was marched from the court docket after being dismissed from the RAF in shame. Pictured: The 2019 Chinook show crew Bayliss led

Throughout a pre-sentence interview with a probation officer, Bayliss stated he had no purpose to assault the lady.

Decide Advocate Legard stated: ‘You stated you’d be capable of get extra women than she might males, which shows a worrying angle in direction of girls basically.’

The court docket discovered he posed a danger of hurt to grownup females because of the angle proven within the wake of his offence.

The decide advocate added: ‘This was a betrayal of the values and requirements of the Royal Air Pressure and tarnishes the status of the officer corps.

‘You put on the insignia in your sleeve for a purpose, which is to uphold the very best requirements of integrity and to steer by instance.’

Andrew Molloy, mitigating, stated that the incident had introduced an finish to Bayliss’s marriage and he was now separated from his younger youngsters and residing in a flat.

He stated: ‘Squadron Chief Bayliss has suffered psychological well being issues which can’t be understated. He was signed off from flying on account of these psychological well being points and has wanted to take time without work.

‘His marriage is now over though his spouse has supplied a personality reference for him to be thought of by the court docket.’

In 2019 Bayliss, a crack pilot, was made supervisor of the RAF’s elite Chinook helicopter show crew which excursions airfields around the globe.

A press launch on the time stated he could be: ‘Charged with the organisation of the crew, from coaching schedules to gasoline and sponsorship,’ including: ‘Oli is essential to the operating of the Crew.’

Emma Norton, Director and Solicitor with the Centre for Navy Justice, stated the sufferer’s feeling of being ostracised by the air power was commonplace for servicewomen who report sexual assault within the armed forces.

She stated: ‘The experiences of this lady after she reported an especially severe sexual assault appear to mirror these of all of the servicewomen we’re supporting.

‘After she reviews a sexual assault, sometimes she is ostracised, unsupported and made to really feel like she is the issue.

‘A lot of our shoppers have been warned concerning the potential affect of their allegation on the profession of the person, with a putting lack of concern demonstrated for their very own profession or welfare.

‘The coverage that units out how sexual assault victims are alleged to be supported is routinely and systematically ignored within the CMJ’s expertise. The result’s often career-ending for the ladies involved.’

The group has campaigned for all sexual assaults dedicated in a navy setting to be taken away from the navy courts.

Ms Norton stated: ‘Basic reforms which have been really helpful by so many unbiased our bodies – resembling guaranteeing actually unbiased dealing with of sexual harassment complaints outdoors of the Military, and severe legal instances being despatched to the civil legal justice system.’