A Major General tipped as the future head of the British Army has admitted disgraceful indecent conduct after he was charged with sexual assault.
James Roddis, of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, appeared at a hearing at the Court Martial Centre in Bulford, Wiltshire, where he admitted the lesser charge.
Roddis, of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, plea of not guilty to sexual assault section 3 of the Sexual Offences Act was accepted by the Service Prosecuting Authority.
It is extremely rare for an officer of his rank to face court martial.
The highly-decorated 52-year-old commander had led thousands of soldiers during his unblemished 30-year career and earned multiple bravery awards.
Former Major General James Roddis, 52, appeared at a hearing at the Court Martial Centre in Bulford, Wiltshire, where he admitted the lesser charge of disgraceful indecent conduct
Roddis, a married father-of-three, is understood to have left the Army of his own accord in recent months.
He was a contender to become Chief of General Staff and is only the second Major General to face a court martial in two centuries.
Roddis, a married father-of-three, is understood to have left the Army of his own accord in recent months.
He was until recently Director of Strategy at UK military’s Strategic Command, responsible for Special Forces units and other secretive intelligence-gathering and cyber units.
He has received the Distinguished Service Order (DSO), the UK’s highest award for leadership in combat, and a Mention in Dispatches after serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.
He was made an MBE in 2009 and earned a pair of Queen’s Commendations for Valuable Service in 2008 and 2017. He founded the Army’s elite Specialised Infantry Brigade in 2017.
More to follow.