Major General James Roddis, a highly decorated veteran with a distinguished 30-year career, is set to make history as the first senior British Army official charged with a sex crime. Married and father of three, Roddis will face trial in a military court later this month for alleged sexual assault, under Section 3 of the Sexual Offences Act.
The trial, scheduled at Bulford Military Court Centre in Wiltshire, marks only the second court martial of an officer of Roddis’s rank in the past two centuries. The British Army has confirmed Roddis is no longer in active service but has emphasized its commitment to maintaining high standards of conduct and addressing misconduct allegations seriously.
Originally from Fife, Scotland, Roddis previously held a senior role at Strategy Command, overseeing SAS missions and offensive cyber warfare campaigns. Throughout his illustrious career, he was awarded prestigious honors, including a Distinguished Service Order for his bravery in Afghanistan, and an MBE from Queen Elizabeth II.
Prior to Roddis, the last Major General to face a court martial was Nick Welch, convicted of fraud in 2019. The last instance of an officer of Roddis’s rank being charged dates back to 1815 when Lieutenant General Sir John Murray faced charges related to military negligence during the Napoleonic Wars.
The case against Roddis highlights the Army’s unwavering commitment to upholding integrity and accountability within its ranks. For ongoing updates on this developing story, please visit Metro’s news page.