A British soldier was charged with rape on 23 October following an investigation into an incident involving a woman serving in British Forces Cyprus.
Lance Corporal Nicholas Horne, who serves in the 4th Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland—also known as The Highlanders—was arrested on 19 October, two days after the Defence Serious Crime Command (DSCC) received a report of the alleged offence. The servicewoman involved serves with the UK armed forces on the Mediterranean island.
Horne remains remanded in custody pending a court-martial hearing. The major crime team at the DSCC, operating alongside service police partners, conducted the underlying inquiry into the case.
The DSCC functions as an independent police organisation tasked with investigating serious crimes committed by individuals subject to service law both in the United Kingdom and overseas.
An Army spokesperson addressed the case in an official statement confirming the legal action taken against the soldier.
We can confirm that Lance Corporal Nicholas Horne was charged with one count of rape, contrary to section 1 of the Sexual Offences Act 2006, on 23rd October 2026, following an investigation by the Defence Serious Crime Command.
An Army spokesperson
The spokesperson added that anyone convicted of a sexual offence will be removed from the military.
There is no place for criminal behaviour in the Army, and we recognise the great courage it takes to come forward and report an offence. Anyone convicted of a sexual offence will be discharged from the service.
An Army spokesperson
The DSCC continues to encourage any military personnel affected by sexual offences to come forward and contact the command.
The UK maintains a military presence on Cyprus through Akrotiri and Dhekelia, two major sovereign bases situated in the south and southeast of the island. These bases were retained under the 1960 treaty that established Cypriot independence and concluded Britain’s status as a colonial power there.
The Ministry of Defence has worked to address sexual misconduct within military ranks in recent years. Following an official internal survey revealing that nearly one in 10 women serving full-time in the British military experienced an assault or non-consensual sexual activity over a one-year period, the ministry deployed specialist teams to military installations across the UK and overseas.
