Army bomb disposal expert punched junior soldier three times in the face after 'light-hearted banter'

A decorated British Army officer has been fined after he suddenly punched a junior soldier three times in the face during 'light-hearted banter' at an 'all-ranks' Christmas party.Captain Lee Bush, 43, left a military court puzzled as to why he 'jabbed' Warrant Officer Class One Andrew Ridsdale out of the blue three times in the face in quick succession while they were seemingly joking around.A court martial was told Bush joked 'I'll knock you out,' to which Warrant Officer Ridsdale jokingly replied 'yeah right' – only to then suddenly face a trio of blows from his superior officer.The impromptu attack saw Bush land punches on his victim's jaw and chin, leaving him with headaches so severe he could not work in the Army for two weeks.It happened at an accommodation block at 101 Battalion's base at the Army Reserve Centre in Keynsham, Somerset, in November 2025 after a festive event.At Bulford Military Court in Wiltshire, Bush – who has toured in Afghanistan, Iraq and Estonia – was fined £2,900 and ordered to pay compensation of £800 after admitting one count of battery.Group Captain Michaela Blackmore, prosecuting, said that prior to the Christmas function, 'the accused and Warrant Officer Ridsdale were seen speaking together'.She said that during the exchange, Bush said 'I'll knock you out' and Warrant Officer Ridsdale replied 'yeah right.' Captain Lee Bush, 43, pictured outside Bulford Military Court, struck Warrant Officer Andrew Ridsdale to the face 'with a closed fist''Witnesses who heard the comment thought it was banter due to the tone adopted by both men,' the prosecutor added.She said Bush struck the warrant officer 'with a closed fist', while the victim 'didn't strike the defendant himself and offered no violence in return'.Group Captain Blackmore said that this happened at the 101 Battalion accommodation in Keynsham, Somerset.She said the warrant officer had remembered Bush punching him once on the chin and once to the left jaw and that he only stopped when someone intervened.She said that Bush accepted he had punched him and that he described it as 'one jab, followed by two more jabs'.The prosecutor said that Warrant Officer Ridsdale experienced 'pain in his jaw and headaches' that he had to seek medical attention for and take time off work.In a service police interview, Bush said he was 'having light-hearted banter with Warrant Officer Ridsdale,' the prosecutor said.'He said he made the offhand comment that he would knock him out, and he thought his demeanour changed and he threw a jab.'He said he felt anger (in his victim) and thought he needed to follow it up with two more jabs.'Group Captain Blackmore said that he had been in the military since 2000 and became a Captain in 2022 before joining the reserves the following year.Mitigating, Matthew Bolt said: 'The reality is that Captain Bush is mortified to find himself where he is today. He never thought he would be here, no less for hurting anyone.'He has had a long career, a varied one, but he has never had any blot on his record. He deeply regrets what his actions have caused both him and his unit.'He has pleaded guilty at the very earliest opportunity.'Mr Bolt said that Bush joined the army in 2000 as a vehicle mechanic and was following in his father's footsteps.He said: 'He is trained in counter-IED measures and has deployed to Afghanistan in that capacity.'He was also deployed to Estonia as Russia's invasion of Ukraine unfolded.'Mr Bolt said that before this incident, he had been 'eligible for promotion' to Major but this had 'cost him that step'.Assistant Judge Advocate General John Atwill said of the 'deliberate attack': 'What may have begun as banter...escalated into violence.'That violence was entirely one-sided. For reasons unknown to us, you said to him that you would knock him out.'Third-party witnesses said they saw you punching him to the shoulder and then a number of times to the face.'Judge Atwill said the offence was aggravated by Warrant Officer Ridsdale being 'junior in rank' and that Bush had consumed alcohol at the time.Judge Atwill imposed a service fine of £2,900, and said if this was not paid it could lead to an imprisonment of three months.He also ordered £800 in compensation to be paid within 28 days.