A group of Royal Marines have been thrown out of the military after taking part in an initiation ceremony in front of shocked revellers at an Angus nightclub.
The trio – and a member of the public who joined in – admitted charges of public indecency at DeVitos nightclub in Arbroath.
Forfar Sheriff Court heard the three Marines took part in the incident in the club’s smoking area, which was caught on CCTV.
The court heard Luke Bowen urinated in the mouths of fellow Marines Jordan Coia and Ben James then committed a further lewd act.
Bowen then drank his own urine as well as that of others before exposing himself in front of onlookers.
A fourth man, Craig Lynch, who is not in the military, then performed a sex act on another person.
None of the men will face being placed on the sex offenders register after the Crown accepted there was “no significant sexual element” to the crime.
Lynch, 42, of Aberdeen; James, 22, of Thirsk; Bowen, 25, of Chichester; and Coia, 22, whose addresses were given as c/o RM Condor, pled guilty to a charge of public indecency.
Jacob Holt, 21, Ryan Fowler, 23, Michael Byrne, 26, all care of RM Condor in Arbroath, had their not guilty pleas to a charge of public indecency accepted.
It is understood they remain serving Royal Marines.
Solicitor Nick Whelan, defending Coia, said: “This resulted in the ending of service for a number of these young men, including Mr Coia.
“What he thought would be a lifetime relationship with the military has come to an end after two-and-a-half years of service.
“The case has been hanging over these individuals and has prevented him obtaining employment as it is still pending.”
Nick Markowski, defending James, said: “He was also discharged from the Royal Marines.”
Lynne Sturrock, for Bowen, added: “He’s been discharged and now lives with his parents.”
Sheriff John Rafferty deferred sentence on the four men for social work background reports and released them on bail meantime.
