Sergeant Major got drunk and soiled his lederhosen at the Army Oktoberfest

A regimental sergeant (RSM) was so drunk he soiled himself and fell into a toilet, a court-martial heard.

The highly decorated Michael Ransley was responsible for setting and maintaining standards at an Army Oktoberfest party last October.

He had been the senior soldier present at the event.

But the 40-year-old had an “accident” in the venue’s toilet that left him, his Oktoberfest lederhosen and long Bavarian socks covered in feces.

Guests are said to have been appalled by both the “smell and the sight” of the soldier, previously known as the “quintessential” what a commander should be.

RSM Ransley, who was a soldier for 24 years, was demoted after the embarrassing incident.

He had admitted disorderly conduct and downgraded the pecking order from Warrant Officer Class 1 to Warrant Officer Class 2.

He tried to plead his innocence at Bulford Military Court in Wiltshire to have his demotion overturned, but his request for pardon was denied.

In court, his lawyer described the ordeal as a “spectacular fall from grace”.

RSM Ransley was previously awarded the Operational Service Medal, the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal and a medal for service in Iraq.

The Oktoberfest he attended was held on October 16 at the Infantry Battle School in Brecon, Wales for both civilians and military personnel.

The hearing was told: “There was a lot of alcohol available.

‘He [RSM Ransley] was in the toilet and he got up when someone else came in and soiled himself. That’s where he fell in.

“He was said repeatedly by other senior members who not only pointed out the feces on his leg but also advised him to go and sleep off the alcohol.

“He continued to return to the event despite being physically escorted to a private room. The smell and sight caused grief to others.’

RSM Ransley eventually left and two members of the mess went in search of him.

He was found lying on the ground amid a “strong odor of vomit and feces.” As a precaution, he was lifted into bed and placed in a stable side position.

The walls of the room and the mattress he slept on were both soiled as a result of the incident.

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Matthew Bolt, defending himself, asked the court-martial not to let this lack of judgment “spoil the rest of his life.”

Mr Bolt said: “He was given good advice to leave the role and he should have taken it.

“He wasn’t on duty. It was not an active deterrent, but if all the seniors were there their presence would have a deterrent effect.

“The man standing before you is deeply repentant, the best proof of which is his immediate confession of guilt to his commanding officer.”

Although Judge Advocate Robert Hill accepted that RSM Ransley was embarrassed by the event, he dismissed his appeal.

He said: “The crux of the case and the alcohol incapacity charge is that on three separate occasions he came back with excrement on his clothing.

“That was extremely insulting. He was asked to leave the room and clean himself up.

“It is accepted that he was the responsible person who would have been expected to deal with the behavior he indulged in.”

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