Jack Bannerman found not guilty of alleged sexual assault at Holsworthy Barracks

After a week-long trial, an army cadet charged over an alleged sexual assault at a southwest Sydney army base has been found not guilty.

An Australian Defence Force cadet accused of sexually assaulting a woman from the same base has been found not guilty after a week-long trial.

Jack Bannerman, 20, was suspended from the army after police allege he was charged over the incident that involved a young female colleague at the Holsworthy Defence Barracks in Sydney’s southwest in February 2021.

The trial began last week in front of a jury of 12 and Judge Penelope Hock.

After closing submissions were made by the defence and prosecution on Thursday, the jury retired on Friday to deliberate the verdict.

During the trial, Crown Prosecutor Cassandra Hurford said Bannerman had sexual intercourse with the alleged victim without her consent and sent the woman a text message apologising and asking her not to tell anyone afterwards.

Jack Bannerman.

She described the alleged victim as a “compelling witness” and the jury might have noted the “anguish” on her face when giving evidence.

However defence barrister Alan Hands argued that she was not a reliable witness as her recounts of events changed depending on who she spoke to.

Mr Hands said Bannerman was “guilty of a moral wrong” for cheating on his girlfriend and lying about what her position would be on it, but that he is not guilty of this offence.

He said the sex was consensual and they both engaged in it while knowing that Bannerman had a girlfriend.

Jack Bannerman

“She has initiated it. She goes to the bathroom and gets a condom, she places it on his penis and she straddles him … they then move to the floor and he is still underneath,” Mr Hands said.

Judge Hock directed the jury on the factors they would need to consider and after less than six hours, they returned with the decision that Bannerman was not guilty.

Bannerman and the jury have been discharged from court proceedings.