Army chaplain cleared on harassment charges

An Army chaplain accused of harassing a soldier and his wife was partially cleared by a court martial yesterday. Padre Captain Richard Landall, 41, was acquitted on two counts of harassment.

The ruling came after the court martial panel at Aldershot, Hants, heard that Fusilier Sean Brazier, the soldier at the centre of the allegations, told a senior officer: "My wife and I weren't harassed." The evidence came from Fusilier Brazier's adjutant Captain Andrew Rawding.

Capt Landall had told the hearing his job was the most important thing in his life and he would never do anything to jeopardise his vocation.

The chaplain still faces four charges of indecently assaulting another soldier's wife. The hearing resumes on Monday.