Chief Petty Officer Andrew Parsons convicted of assaulting subordinate

A naval man who recently had undergone a vasectomy was struck in the groin by a superior officer during a 40th birthday celebration. Find out the officer’s punishment.

Chief Petty officer Andrew Parsons leaving Defence Military Court in the ACT. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

A naval man told a subordinate sailor to “suck it up” after he flicked them in the groin during a during a 40th birthday bash.

Perth man Chief Petty Officer Andrew Parsons, 41, pleaded guilty to assaulting the man when he faced the Defence Force Magistrates Court in Canberra on Tuesday.

He was initially charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm. However, prosecutors withdrew the charge after Parsons pleaded to the alternative offence.

According to the statement of agreed facts read out by the prosecutor, the victim, who held the rank of Leading Seaman, had a vasectomy shortly before the incident and worked underneath Parsons at HMAS Stirling.

On June 19, 2021, the victim attended Parsons‘ 40th birthday celebrations at The Island Brewhouse in Perth.

Chief Petty officer Andrew Parsons pleaded guilty to assaulting a subordinate after striking the groin of a leading seaman – who recently had a vasectomy. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

During the event, two people gatecrashed the party and disturbed attendees. Parsons confronted the men before calling security and later the police.

The statement of facts stated Parsons was distressed by this, with another sailor attempting to calm him down by beginning to sing “the submarine song”.

The incident occurred while Parsons celebrated his 40th birthday at The Island Brewhouse in Perth. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

Later that night, Parsons walked past the victim and flicked his right hand back, making contact with the man’s groin.

After the victim responded negatively to the touching, Parsons said words to the effect of “suck it up”.

The prosecutor said the incident was toward the more serious end of the charge due to the rank disparity between Parsons and the victim.

He said Parsons had been in the ADF since 2002, had held the rank of Chief Petty Officer for six years, and worked as a submarine technician.

The prosecutor said Parsons had four prior convictions relating to driving offences from earlier in his career.

Chief Petty officer Andrew Parsons told his victim to “suck it up” after he complained about the assault. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

“(Parsons’ actions were) a failure to maintain discipline,” he said

“This calls into question his reliability — can he be trusted.”

Parsons‘ lawyer told the court that while his client’s actions were “obviously wrong” it was “done in the spirit of banter”.

“Banter shouldn’t be careless,” he said.

He said the men had been friends for ten years and said there was a culture of banter within HMAS Stirling where they were both based.

The lawyer said Parsons had an eight-year-old child from a previous marriage, and said his five-year relationship with his partner ended following the fallout of the incident.

He told the court his client grew up in Western Australia and joined the navy after he had completed year 10.

The lawyer said the sailor had received numerous accolades during his 20-year naval career including a Silver Commendation.

“(Parsons) is a very highly skilled submariner,” he said. “This is a man who has devoted his life to the navy.”

He urged the court martial panel to consider only giving his client a reprimand.

The Court Martial Panel ultimately fined Parsons $10,274. 24 and reduced his seniority within his rank of Chief Petty Officer.