Bombardier is jailed for eight years for raping a female comrade on the morning of her birthday as she repeatedly told him 'no'

Published: 15:43, 13 July 2026 | Updated: 15:45, 13 July 2026 A bombardier has been jailed for eight years after he 'pinned down' and raped an army colleague on the morning of her birthday after she repeatedly told him 'no'.  Bombardier Michael Murley told her ‘I would have finished by now if you just let me do it’ as she told him she did not want to have sex with him.  She could not push Bdr Murley off her and later 'broke down in distress' about the rape, the court heard.  Bdr Murley - whose rank in the Royal Artillery is equivalent to a Corporal in standard branches of the British Army - was found guilty of one count of rape at Bulford Military Court.  Assistant Judge Advocate General John Atwill jailed Bdr Murley for eight years, dismissed him from the military and reduced him to the rank of Gunner.  The woman, who did not work with Bdr Murley, had gone out to celebrate with two others in 2024 because her birthday was the following day.  They had socialised and sung along to music clips from YouTube. She then asked Bdr Murley to pick her up and take her home - where they had consensual sex that evening.  Bombardier Michael Murley (pictured) was jailed for eight years for one count of rape at Bulford Military Court, Wiltshire The next morning she left Bdr Murley in bed so that she could go to a weigh-in for a tug of war competition. When she came back home, he was still in bed - and the attack happened shortly thereafter.  Prosecutor Graham Coombes said: 'When returning, the accused tried to have sex with her. 'She kept telling him "no". He said to her "I would have finished by now if you just let me do it. 'She tried to wriggle out of the accused’s grip saying she did not want to do it because she didn’t have time.  'The accused then pushed her down on the bed.'  She repeatedly pleaded with Bdr Murley to stop but he then 'pushed her head down', said Mr Coombes.  He said: 'She kept trying to wriggle away and she kept telling him to please stop. She tried to push him off her.' She was left in 'shock' and was just 'staring at the curtains' after the attack, the prosecutor said.  Bdr Murley then left 'like nothing had happened' and said that he was going on 'another date that evening', he added. Later that day, the woman 'broke down in distress' to her colleagues and told them what happened. She was referred to a sexual assault referral centre and gave a statement. When interviewed by the police, Bdr Murley said that no sexual activity took place that morning. He denied raping the woman in a subsequent interview.