Description
A high-ranking RAF officer famed for his role in Royal Norfolk Show freefall parachute displays has been jailed for raping a young woman.
Flight Lieutenant Michael Reeve, 32, from Aylsham, has been sent to prison for five years and six months by a military court after the attack on a 23-year-old civilian after a formal dinner.
He was sentenced at the Military Court Centre in Catterick on March 28 following a conviction at trial for two offences of rape and assault by penetration.
The sex attack happened during an event they attended on January 12 last year, at an evening which was supposed to promote the armed forces.
Reeve had taken the victim - who, with a friend, had been invited to the dinner - up to his room to show her his RAF memorabilia after she had shown an interest in joining the force.
It was then that he raped her.
After the victim left the room, she immediately confided in her friend and Reeve was arrested.
The pair had known each other prior to the dinner as the victim had been working where Reeve was posted.
The court martial heard that immediately after the attack, Reeve made comments to the woman where he had said "something along the lines of in the military women who engage in sexual activity are considered badly while men get points.”
A detailed victim impact statement provided at to the military court revealed what an "obviously profound effect" the attack has had upon her everyday life.
The report added: “The tragedy of this case is that a 10 to 15 minute trip to your room has left two lives if not ruined but deeply affected.
"It has affected her psychologically, it has affected her confidence, it has at least temporarily defeated her career ambition to commission into the Royal Air Force, it has affected her ability to trust other people particularly fellow Service people and those with whom she might otherwise want to enter a relationship.
“She does remain optimistic that as time passes the effect of that evening will lessen.
“There is nothing that we can do that will undo the harm that has happened to those involved now in the case.
“But dealing with this case in a just and appropriate way will at least provide a foundation for both you and [name redacted] to hopefully move forward."
When asked if he understood the sentence, he simply replied "Yes, your Honour".
Reeve has also been placed on the sex offenders register for life.