Nicholas Horne, a platoon commander also known as a member of the Highlanders, has been formally charged with raping a female soldier serving with the British Forces in Cyprus. He is in custody awaiting an appearance before a military court.
The Defence Serious Crime Command (DSCC) said the charge was brought on 23 October 2026. Horne was arrested on 19 October, two days after military authorities were notified of the reported incident in Cyprus.
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The case was investigated by the DSCC’s serious crime team in cooperation with the military police. A British Army spokesperson confirmed the charge and said the armed forces take cases of sexual violence seriously.
“We know it takes great courage to report a crime. Anyone found guilty of a sexual offence will be dismissed from service,” the Army’s statement said.
The DSCC urged people affected by sexual offences within the armed forces to report them and seek support.
The case comes as the British Ministry of Defence steps up measures to combat harassment and sexual violence in the military. Last year, the Ministry announced that specialist teams would be deployed at military bases in the United Kingdom and overseas.
An official Ministry of Defence survey found that, over the past year, nearly one in ten women serving full-time in the British Army had experienced sexual assault or another form of sexual activity without their consent.
