A Royal Marine Commando who told a female sailor “women don’t belong in the military” has been told to “grow up” by a military judge after dodging a service ban.

On 2 October 2025, Ewan Baxter was kicked out of the Majestic bar in the Greek island of Crete and escorted back to the Navy’s flagship after directing “casual misogyny” towards female sailors, Bulford Military Court in Wiltshire heard.

The 24-year-old Marine, from the elite 42 Commando, told Leading Hand Nicole Gildert: “I am not listening to you because you’re a female.”

He also told senior sailor Chief Petty Officer Rachel Cairney to “f*** off”.

The military court heard that as well as hurling sexist abuse at the two servicewomen, he verbally abused two male sailors, Leading Hand Alex Turner and Lieutenant Edward Faull.

He was told by Lt Faull that he should go to bed but he “did not comply” and said that he was “just a matelot” and that “rank doesn't mean anything to me”.

The outburst took place on the HMS Prince of Wales, the Navy’s biggest warship.

Despite admitting to four counts of misconduct towards a superior office, Mne Baxter, who has been serving in the military for more than six years, has avoided a ban.

He was sentenced to 90 days of a Service Supervision and Punishment Order, where he had to report to his commanding officer and give up a sixth of his pay.

Prosecutor Group Captain Michaela Blackmore said Mne Baxter had been “discriminatory to women in the Navy” after becoming intoxicated at the bar.

When he was questioned by the service police, Mne Baxter admitted that he had been disrespectful because he had been “angry about being brought back to the ship”.

Mitigating, Michael Green said that Mne Baxter was following in his family history of serving in the Royal Marines, with his father having served for 23 years and his brother currently serving.

"He utterly accepts that everything he said on that night was inappropriate, out of order and disrespectful,” Mr Green said.

"He puts forward an explanation of sorts for his behaviour. He had been on a nine month deployment, which is longer than usual. On this particular evening he categorically disputes being in any sort of disturbance."

But Assistant Judge Advocate General John Atwill said that Mne Baxter had a “prolonged course of disrespectful behaviour”.

He added: “This was not a single ill-judged remark. This behaviour continued over a long period.

“We note that you showed a particular disdain for female personnel. Mne Baxter, you should take a look around. Female personnel have served in the Royal Navy for the last 30 years.

“Your casual misogyny does you no credit at all.”

Judge Atwill described Mne Baxter’s behaviour as “undisciplined, ill-judged and immature”, ordering him to “wise up and grow up”.