The key facts
- Lance Corporal Nicholas Horne was charged with one count of rape on 23 October 2026
- The arrest took place on 19 October, two days after a report was made to the Defence Serious Crime Command
- Horne remains in custody pending a court martial hearing
The charge and the case
A British soldier has been charged with the rape of a woman serving in the UK armed forces in Cyprus. According to BBC News, citing the Defence Serious Crime Command (DSCC), the charge has been brought against Lance Corporal Nicholas Horne of the 4th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland, known as the Highlanders. The charge of one count of rape was brought on 23 October 2026.
Timeline and investigation
Horne was arrested on 19 October — two days after the DSCC received a report of the alleged rape of a servicewoman with British Forces Cyprus. The investigation was carried out by the DSCC's serious crime unit, which independently investigates serious offences committed by persons subject to military law, both in the UK and overseas. Horne remains in custody pending a court martial hearing.
The Army's response
An Army spokesperson confirmed the charge under Section 1 of the Sexual Offences Act 2006 and said: 'There is no place for criminal behaviour in the Army, and we recognise the courage it takes to report a crime.' According to the spokesperson, anyone convicted of a sexual offence will be discharged from service. It is noted that the UK retains two sovereign bases in the south and south-east of Cyprus — Akrotiri and Dhekelia — under the 1960 treaty that established the island's independence.
Image source, James Willoughby/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Horne was arrested on 19 October and charged four days later
