An investigation by The Guardian has reportedly revealed that US military personnel accused of crimes including rape and sexual assault against women in the UK have been tried by US courts martial, rather than the British justice system. The investigation, which has been ongoing for six months, claims that these servicemen have appeared to receive lighter sentences than they might have under British law.
The Guardian's investigations team reported on the secretive nature of US military bases in Britain, where these trials are held. One case observed by reporters involved Jacob Wulfson, a fighter pilot, who was tried for sexually assaulting a British academic. Wulfson was acquitted of drugging and sexual offences, and convicted of strangling an intimate partner, receiving a formal reprimand and six months' confinement at Lakenheath, as well as dismissal from the air force.
The investigation also identified other cases where US service members in the UK were convicted by US courts martial for sexual assault, paedophilia, indecent exposure, and violent attacks, some involving British victims and occurring while personnel were off duty. The US military reportedly took jurisdiction of these cases from UK police, meaning the men were tried by US court martial and none were convicted for rape.