Senior British Army officer charged for sexually assaulting female soldier in Canada

A senior serving British army officer has been charged with sexually assaulting a female officer with the Canada military. Police in Ontario have said that Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Davies, who was temporarily posted there, was arrested earlier this week following a drink-fuelled night out at a military function in April.

According to media reports, the 45-year-old was charged after a three-month investigation by military officials and police in Ontario. Davies was subsequently ordered to surrender his passport and has been prohibited from leaving the province until he is scheduled to appear in court on 15 September.

The assault reportedly happened when the alleged victim had attended a military function at Fort Frontenac and headed to a downtown "licensed establishment" (a bar) with other guests she had met that evening, including Davies.

The military function was held to commemorate the Canadian troops' efforts in fighting the German soldiers in France, at the Battle of Vimy Ridge during World War One in Kingston, Ontario on 9 April.

Police said that the 52-year-old alleged victim reported that she was followed by the alleged accused and sexually assaulted in her hotel room in the early hours the following morning.

Following the criminal investigation and reports from forensic tests, Davies was arrested and charged on one count of sexual assault. He is out on bail and has been barred from leaving Ontario.

BBC reported that the British army said it knows about the case. "We are aware of an investigation being conducted by Kingston Police into an alleged incident that took place in April this year involving a serving British army officer," a British army spokesman said. "As the case is sub-judice it would be inappropriate to make any comment."