Aaron Balmforth: Navy Able Seaman sentenced for indecent act against colleague

A sailor in the Royal Australian Navy has been sternly punished after he admitted to groping a female superior officer’s breast while they were on shore leave during a deployment to Japan.

The HMAS Parramatta.

A sailor in the Royal Australian Navy who told a female superior officer she was hot and then groped her breast three times in a Japanese bar has been sentenced to 90 days’ military detention.

HMAS Parramatta was on deployment to Japan in 2022 when Able Seaman Aaron Balmforth, 25, and his colleagues took shore leave in Susukino.

A Defence Force Magistrate's tribunal sitting at HMAS Kuttabul at Garden Island heard Balmforth was heavily intoxicated when he told a female colleague – his superior – she was “hot”.

Defence Force magistrate Captain Scott Geeves said Balmforth was so intoxicated he was struggling to walk and had to be assisted by another female colleague.

“He told (the victim) how hot she was and used the back of his hand to rub over the top of her breast on the outside of her clothing,” Cpt Geeves said.

“She replied with words to the effect of yeah, right, accidental, ha ha, very funny.”

The tribunal then heard Balmforth squeezed his female colleague’s breast over her clothes with an open hand, and then touched it a third time.

“(The second time) she responded with words to the effect of ‘okay I get it, you can stop’,” Cpt Geeves said.

“(The third time) the victim stated she remembers laughing it off and brushing his hand away.”

When investigators informed Balmforth of the allegations in November 2022, the tribunal heard he could not remember any part of the incident but was “horrified” and “shocked” by his actions.

Prosecutor Lieutenant Commander Woodcock withdrew five charges and Balmforth pleaded guilty to a single count of committing an act of indecency.

The tribunal heard he was genuinely remorseful for his conduct and had written a letter of apology to the victim.

HMAS Parramatta.

Multiple references from superior officers in Balmforth’s chain of command also indicated the fire control systems technician was thought to be a bright prospect who was unlikely to offend again and could once again become a valued member of the Australian Defence Force.

“Putting rank aside, she had every right to attend that particular bar in Japan and enjoy her evening without being subject to such behaviour, and there was a breach of trust,” Cpt Geeves said.

“It would have been confronting and embarrassing for her to have been dealt with by (Balmforth) like that.”

The tribunal heard Balmforth is now abstinent from drinking; has undertaken a binge drinking course at his own expense; is engaging with a psychologist and has no prior convictions either in the military or civilian jurisdiction.

He has previously received a warning for turning up to work with a high blood alcohol level due to drinking the night before.

Balmforth – who hails from Forster on the Mid-North Coast – was also recommended for promotion in February, which has been on hold due to the ongoing proceedings.

“That must be very disappointing, but he is the author of his own demise,” Cpt Geeves said.

“This type of behaviour, I’m getting tired of dealing with it – despite the consistent messaging and all of the lengths that senior members of command within the Australian Defence Force have gone to over the last number of years, that messaging isn’t getting through to some.”

Cpt Geeves formally convicted Balmforth of the offence and sentenced him to 90 days’ military detention at the Defence Force Correctional Establishment at Holsworthy Barracks.

Of that sentence, 60 days will be suspended, and Balmforth will have to serve 30 days.

The sentence is subject to automatic review but commences immediately ahead of the review.