British soldier charged with rape of woman serving in Cyprus

A British soldier has been charged with the rape of a woman serving with the UK armed forces in Cyprus.

Lance Corporal Nicholas Horne, who serves in the 4th Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland – also known as The Highlanders – was charged with one count of rape on October 23, the Defence Serious Crime Command (DSCC) said.

He was arrested on October 19, two days after the DSCC was informed of the alleged rape of a woman serving in the British Forces Cyprus, which is part of the British Armed Forces.

Horne was remanded in custody pending a court-martial hearing.

The charge comes after an investigation by the major crime team at the DSCC - who independently investigate serious crime committed by people subject to service law in the UK and overseas.

An Army spokesperson said: "We can confirm that Lance Corporal Nicholas Horne was charged with one count of rape, contrary to section 1 of the Sexual Offences Act 2006, on 23rd October 2026, following an investigation by the Defence Serious Crime Command...

"There is no place for criminal behaviour in the Army, and we recognise the great courage it takes to come forward and report an offence.

"Anyone convicted of a sexual offence will be discharged from the service."

The UK retained two major sovereign bases in Cyprus' south and south east, Akrotiri and Dhekelia, as part of a 1960 treaty that established the island's independence and ended its status as a British colony.