Soldier faces jail over strip

The Sun's Page 3 has been around for over 30 years

The Army says a woman soldier who allegedly went absent without leave for a day to pose topless for a national newspaper could be thrown out of the service - or even jailed.

Lance Corporal Roberta Winterton, from Bridlington in East Yorkshire, posed for The Sun's Page 3 despite warnings from her senior officers that she would be breaking Army rules.

The 20-year-old PT instructor is the first serving soldier to go topless in the newspaper, and is pictured in Friday's edition stripping off her Army fatigues.

There are many women in the army who do extremely professional jobs, Lance Corporal Winterton is not one of this group.

An Army spokesman

An Army spokesman said it did not condone her behaviour and she would now have to go before her commanding officer.

"She has broken the rules and now we have to consider what to do with her," he said.

"There are many women in the army who do extremely professional jobs. Lance Corporal Winterton is not one of this group, who are of dedicated, excellent reputation."

The soldier, who has been on a six-month tour of duty in Bosnia, is based with at 9 Supply Regiment at Hullavington Barracks in Chippenham, Wiltshire.

She is quoted in the newspaper as saying she wanted to quit the Army to become a glamour model but had not been allowed to.

"I know I am going to get into big trouble but it's something I am desperate to do," she is said to have told The Sun.

Judgment

The Army spokesman said soldiers could be kicked out or face military custody in extreme cases of going absent without leave, but punishments are "discretionary".

"Clearly the Army doesn't want people who don't want to be soldiers," he said.

"A judgement will have to be made as to whether or not disciplinary offences have taken place, and it seems like that may be the case looking at this article.

"If it has, she would be charged with committing an offence, then the matter would be dealt with by the established processes."

He added that Lance Corporal Winterton had been advised that it was also an offence to contact the media when she told bosses she wanted to be a model.

Lance Corporal Winterton has returned to her barracks, according to the Army.