Royal Navy commander jailed for assaulting junior officer on first day in command

The commanding officer of HMS Tyne, Lieutenant Commander Martyn Mayger, has been jailed for four months after being convicted of sexually assaulting a junior officer. The incident happened after a crew outing in the Shetland Islands, on Mayger’s first day in command, and led to his removal from the ship within days.

The court heard that Mayger touched the sailor twice, saying he had been teasing him about his weight; he accepted the touching but denied it was sexual. The judge called the offence a serious breach of duty and trust, noting the ship was left without its commanding officer. HMS Tyne patrols British waters and has monitored Russian vessels; Mayger had also led UK sea support for Ukraine, overseeing 100 personnel and a £100 million budget.