A Royal Marine launched a campaign of bullying against a fellow recruit in Devon because of a remark he made about his girlfriend, a court has heard.

At one stage 24-year-old John Caldwell threatened to kill victim Samuel Mouzer with a survival knife at the Commando Training Centre, Lympstone.

Caldwell was ordered to pay his victim £500 compensation and undertake 160 hours community punishment by Judge Graham Cottle at Exeter Crown Court.

Caldwell was discharged from the Royal Marines as a result of the incidents in May last year.

Caldwell, now of Boverton Avenue, Brockworth, Gloucestershire, appeared for sentence having earlier pleaded guilty to two charges of assault by beating; one of common assault, one of causing actual bodily harm, and one of making a threat to kill.

The judge told Caldwell:'The trigger for this seems to have been some reference made by the victim to your girlfriend in circumstances which appear perhaps to have upset you.

'Your reaction was far more serious than it needed to have been.

'Your behaviour towards this fellow marine was totally unacceptable - it amounted to a campaign of bullying and a degree of violence.

'It must have been extremely frightening for the victim,' added the judge.

Prosecutor Sean Brunton said Caldwell's conduct was 'bullying verging on persecution' of his victim.

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