Natasha Crawley: Drunk Navy chef, 30, pulled sailor’s head to her chest at party

A Navy chef who pulled a male colleague’s head onto her chest during boozy New Year’s Eve celebrations has narrowly avoided jail.

Leading Rate Natasha Crawley – who was previously disciplined for having sex on board a ship – left another man with ‘panic in his eyes’ as she ‘straddled’ and tried to kiss him, a court martial heard.

The 30-year-old admitted three counts of misconduct through alcohol and was told her behaviour was ‘demeaning and intrusive’. However, Crawley – who is seven months pregnant and cried after the hearing – was spared jail, with the judge suspending her 16-week sentence for 18 months.

The incidents in the early hours of January 1 this year happened on HMS Lancaster, a frigate deployed to the Red Sea to hunt drug smugglers and arms traffickers.

Prosecutor Rupert Gregory said: ‘This case involved the defendant getting very drunk on board HMS Lancaster while it was at sea.’

Crawley walked into the celebrations with a bottle of red wine, her lips already stained red. Others joined the mess party after the countdown for the New Year.

Mr Gregory added: ‘[Crawley] told the first victim, “I’m open right now, and you know exactly what that means”.’

Assistant Judge Advocate John Atwill said: ‘Your behaviour was crass and offensive... but we have concluded dismissal is not necessary.’

Crawley also avoided a reduction in rank.