Australian Army officer Major Christopher Pitman pleads guilty to prejudicial conduct

An Australian Army officer has been demoted and will be dismissed from the defence force after a series of sordid texts and sexual activity with a female subordinate surfaced.

Australian Army officer Captain Christopher James Pitman faced a restricted court martial in Canberra on June 19 and 20, 2023.

A decorated Australian Army officer has been dumped from the service and lost his rank after sexual activity and explicit texts with a female subordinate were exposed.

Major Christopher James Pitman was demoted to the rank of Captain and will be dismissed from the defence force pending an automatic review following his restricted court martial hearing on Tuesday.

The tribunal heard on Monday Captain Pitman’s use of alcohol partnered with post traumatic stress disorder was the cause of his “downward spiral”, which led to him pleading guilty to six charges of prejudicial conduct.

A statement of facts read to the tribunal said Captain Pitman travelled in a unit which was given orders not to drink in transit.

Squadron Leader Courtney Westphal said the 30-year-old Duntroon alumni broke this order.

Australian Army officer Captain Christopher James Pitman.

According to the tribunal Captain Pitman the next day texted a picture of his crotch to a woman who was his subordinate, who would then go to his room for consensual sexual activity.

The army officer later urinated on a separate night out in front of his subordinates and days later sent the woman explicit texts.

Some of the texts included Major Pitman talking about the woman falling to her death while parachuting and using her broken femur to “bash” her broken body.

The tribunal heard more sordid texts between the two included Major Pitman calling the woman “useless” and “unwanted” and other vulgar messages.

Captain Christopher Pitman was demoted from the rank of Major on June 20, 2023.

Major Pitman then failed to notify his chain of command after the woman told him she had inadvertently taken MDMA.

The prosecution argued the 30-year-old officer showed a “lack of integrity” while committing these offences.

He was not charged with any criminal offence.

Lieutenant Colonel David Healey in Major Pitman’s defence spoke of the 30-year-old’s military career which spanned 12 years and included deployments to the Middle East and commendations.

The tribunal heard the officer’s “spectacular fall from grace” stemmed from his post traumatic stress order which he would self medicate with alcohol.

He also lost a sense of purpose following an unsuccessful transfer to the Royal Australian Air Force.

Lieutenant Healey said Major Pitman showed remorse and took steps to rehabilitate himself following his “downward spiral” and submitted an apology letter to the woman, the tribunal and other character references.

Major General Michael Cowen who presided over the hearing said the 30-year-old’s dismissal would not take effect until an automatic review was completed.

Captain Pitman was also suspended from duty.