Woman solider 'sacked' from army after headbutting wife

Gunner Renee Mulcahy pleaded guilty to beating wife Sophie Penfold on several occasions at their home on Thorney Island, West Sussex, according to newspaper reports.

The 32-year-old admitted five counts of assault by battery and one charge of misconduct through alcohol, the MailOnline said.

She is understood to have been dismissed from the military at a court martial.

Bulford Military Court in Wiltshire heard how the pair had met in 2012 - five years before Gnr Mulcahy joined the Army.

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The pair moved into service accommodation at Baker Barracks in 2018.

Prosecutor Lyndsay Zalkin said the first assault happened after an argument.

The court heard how Gnr Mulcahy came home at 2.00am "drunk and angry" during the summer of 2019.

She gripped her wife by the throat then headbutted her while she lay in bed.

Later that year in December, the soldier swung "full force" at Ms Penfold as she packed her bags to leave.

A year later in March, Gnr Mulcahy slammed her wife against the wall and grabbed her by the throat after coming home drunk.

Baker Barracks is on Thorney Island in West Sussex

Ms Penfold called the on-site guards but once they left Mulcahy proceeded to punch and kick her wife.

She reported the soldier the next morning, who was then removed from the house.

Months later, Gnr Mulcahy broke into her estranged wife's accommodation while drunk to take one of their dogs.

Judge Advocate General Alan Large dismissed Gnr Mulcahy from the military.

She was also handed an 18 month service community order, requiring her to fulfil 60 rehabilitation days and 90 days of an abstinence monitoring programme.