US airman tried by US court martial over Cambridgeshire indecent‑exposure case

newsJul 7, 202616120

Hannes Marschalek, a 37-year-old US airman based at RAF Lakenheath, was prosecuted at a US court martial in 2023 after Cambridgeshire police handed their investigation to the US military. Police arrested Marschalek on 9 October 2022 after complaints that he had indecently exposed himself to a 16-year-old girl and three other women, and investigators say four women in total reported incidents while walking past his Littleport home. Three weeks after arresting and questioning him, Cambridgeshire police agreed to transfer the probe following an official US request, allowing military prosecutors to negotiate a plea bargain at the court martial. Court papers show Marschalek texted friends in July 2022 boasting that he had "definitely just flashed a couple ladies" and described stripping and standing at a window as people walked by, evidence military prosecutors used to describe repeated exposure. This year Marschalek won an appeal in a US military court that quashed his conviction on technical grounds. The case echoes the Capt Jacob Wulfson prosecution and highlights that, despite crimes occurring on British soil while servicemen were off duty, the UK should have primary jurisdiction for prosecutions in such cases.

Eliot Higgins

@eliothiggins.bsky.social

US airman accused of exposing himself to 16-year-old girl avoided British trial www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

552h ago

Always in Boots3

There's quite a history of such cases, local police get a complaint, often hand over to MoD Police to go on base to question a suspect, suspect's CO or immediate superior assures they will remain restricted on base, next you know they've been "reassigned" stateside. NFA as too complicated.

Quoting this

Peter Brodersen9

Forsmag på amerikanske baser på dansk jord?

Natalie Bennett

@nataliegreenpeer.bsky.social

"Growing questions about prosecution of US military personnel for crimes on UK soil", which I raised yesterday in the #ArmedForcesBill and intend to pursue. It surely should be possible to stop this evasion of UK justice #VAWG www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

331h ago

neilofsmeg.bsky.social3

Show him the red card! It's outrageous that the police cede their responsibility in this case

David Bruce 🇳🇬🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿2

It took centuries to eradicate Church Law and courts which allowed rapists, perverts, and assorted criminals to escape justice. Why did ukgov allow the yanks to install a modern day version?

vegankhan.bsky.social1

Tbh I am fed up being controlled by the us government they always use the same old excuses and any of their military or ordinary citizens get away with murder on our soil.

Quoting this

Ireland against Fascism8

The same is happening in every country the US has bases in. US soldiers committing crimes, and getting away with it. All US bases outside the US needs shutting down ASAP

Joe Scaramanga

@joescaramanga.co.uk

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026... Immigrant exposes himself to women and children but no riots and protests outside RAF Lakenheath? It's almost like the "protect are women and children" mob pick specific attributes.

123h ago

Andrew Whiteley

@andrewwhiteley.bsky.social

That 'special relationship' is beginning to look more like an abusive relationship isn't it? www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

53h ago

Henry Dyer

@direthoughts.com

Another important investigation from my colleagues @harryfoxdavies.bsky.social @robevansgdn.bsky.social and Emine Simnaz www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

71h ago

Danny Fearns

@dannyfearns.bsky.social

Cambridgeshire Police say they carefully considered their decision before handing over this & other cases to the US military. Indecent exposure to a 16 yr old girl with the airman off duty and on British soil, so under our jurisdiction. Shameful negligence. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

22h ago

Jacob Gifford Head

@giffordhead.co.uk

The Guardian is starting to run with stories about American servicemen Court Martial'ed under US Service law rather than UK domestic courts. As previously: it is worth noting that this applies both ways. Indeed, I think until recently there was a British Court Martial Centre in Germany.

61h ago

Stejwill

@stejwill.bsky.social

Cambridgeshire Police sound as if they need to have a good clear out of senior decision makers. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

2h ago

Dom Pedro Ricardo 🌳 Dom Pedro II Aeternum 🇧🇷 📐 💮

@newelizabethan.bsky.social

How the US protect their own in their vassal states. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

1h ago

dixonpuetafem.bsky.social

@dixonpuetafem.bsky.social

OMFG enough is enough!! If these men committed crimes on british soil why TF are they being handed back to their own military to be investigated and tried by other US military machos? Nth proof of patriarchal injustice for women and girls and queer folks. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

1h ago

Rose Byrd

@rosame.bsky.social

Anyone noticed any of the usual flagwaving 'protect our wimmin' brigade turning up in Littleport demanding US sex pests face justice in a British jail? No? Thought not. We're too busy kowtowing to the US's Sex Pest-in-Chief. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

1h ago

Radhika | RESONANCE

@radhikaresonance.bsky.social

"Three weeks after arresting and questioning Marschalek, and opening an investigation into the case, Cambridgeshire police agreed to hand over the investigation to the US military after an official request from the Americans."

1h ago

londonsunshine.bsky.social

@londonsunshine.bsky.social

The moral vacuum that is the USA, protecting predators is policy www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

3h ago

Cordelia de Chair

@cordelia-dechair.bsky.social

Americans not bound by our laws once again in Cambridgeshire. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

2h ago

Pooh 🇬🇧 🇺🇦 🇪🇺 🇨🇦 🇩🇰

@poohbearcorner.bsky.social

Police & US Military cases 'It appears some forces are ceding control in cases, including those involving sexual crimes, as the US military seeks to maximise its jurisdiction. The Wulfson case has already prompted concern at the highest levels of the UK government.'

2h ago

1 source

theguardian.comUS airman accused of exposing himself to 16-year-old girl avoided British trial

BBC exposes jailers at Russia's 'torture prisons' in Ukrainenews US airman tried by US court martial over Cambridgeshire indecent‑exposure casenews Woman hit by child on Lime bike denied compensation, says Guardiannews

US airman tried by US court martial over Cambridgeshire indecent‑exposure case

Related