UK soldier accused of raping an Austrian girl

The solider was arrested in the town of
Neustift in November last year. A British
soldier has been charged with raping and
sexually abusing a six-year-old girl in Austria,
prosecutors say.
The soldier, who has not been named, was
arrested on 29 November in Tyrol where he
was taking part in mountain military exercises.
He is due in court on 10 March.
A spokesman for the state prosecutor's office
in Tyrol said prosecutors believed the man had
entered the girl's unlocked family home while
drunk in the early hours of the morning.
The soldier, who has not been named, was
found in the girl's bedroom, by her father who
was awoken by the noise, prosecutors said.
He was arrested in the town of Neustift and if
found guilty faces up to 10 years in prison.
Hansjoerg Mayr, the spokesman for the state
prosecutor, told the BBC the girl had been
interviewed by the authorities.
A spokesman for the Army said it was aware a
soldier had been charged in Austria with
sexual offences relating to a child.
He added: "This matter is now subject to
criminal proceedings led by the Austrian
authorities and it is therefore inappropriate
for us to comment further at this time."