AN army captain used his rank as an acting major to commit a variety of offences of a predatory sexual nature against several soldiers in his regiment while serving in Kosovo, a court martial heard.

Captain Roderick Bryce-Stafford, 31, of The Royal Scots, who lives in Shrivenham, is alleged to have committed acts ranging from the "highly inappropriate" to the "disgraceful and indecent'' while on operational tour in 2002. The court martial, held in Colchester, Essex, heard the acts involved Bryce-Stafford committing a sex act in front of two male soldiers, offering to perform a sex act to another and questioning a corporal about his sexual habits.

The captain, who was married to wife Sarah in July, is also alleged to have asked the same corporal to watch a pornographic video with him in the commander's office.

Lt Col Graham Coombes, prosecuting, said: "It is alleged that Captain Bryce-Stafford, between January and October 2002, committed various offences of a predatory sexual nature involving both a fellow officer and several soldiers both in barracks and on operational tour.

"He used his rank as an acting major to instigate situations where his behaviour ranged from the highly inappropriate to disgraceful and indecent involving in total seven separate soldiers.''

The captain, who is based at the Tidworth Garrison, denies nine counts of conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline, and one count of disgraceful conduct of an indecent kind.

Lt Col Coombes added that the alleged conduct had caused "bad feeling among fellow officers" not to mention mental trauma for the many soldiers involved.

The court martial continues.