Promising Rugby Career Ended by Street Assault
A promising young rugby player's life was irrevocably altered after a violent assault by a Royal Marine left him with a severe brain injury, requiring emergency surgery. Archie Prosser, then 19 and a student at Portsmouth University, was on a night out with friends on October 12, 2022, when the altercation with Courtney Fry, 29, erupted outside a Sainsbury's store.
A Life Saved, But a Future Destroyed
The attack had devastating consequences. Prosser sustained several bleeds on the brain and had to undergo an emergency operation to remove a clot. His family faced the worst night of their lives, with doctors warning that he could die from his injuries. Although he miraculously pulled through, the Bath Rugby Academy player was told he could never play rugby again, shattering his professional dreams.
At Portsmouth Crown Court, Fry was found guilty of grievousous bodily harm without intent, despite his claims of self-defence. The court's sentence has become a major point of contention. Fry was ordered to complete a 95-hour community order and pay a £10,000 fine. His legal team successfully argued that a prison sentence would negatively impact his military career.
'A Miscarriage of Justice': Outcry Over the Outcome
Archie Prosser, now 22, has expressed his profound sense of betrayal, stating he feels 'totally betrayed' by the UK's legal system. He is 'baffled' that Fry has been permitted to continue his career with the Royal Marines. 'He assaulted me to the point I needed emergency brain surgery to save my life,' Prosser told The Telegraph, asserting that the punishment did not fit the crime and that shoplifting might have attracted a harsher penalty.
His brother, Jack, echoed this frustration, describing the attack as 'the worst night of his life' and the court's outcome as feeling like 'a miscarriage of justice'. He urged the Royal Marines to dismiss Fry, calling the decision to retain him a 'dangerous mindset' and highlighting that taxpayer funds are paying the salary of a man convicted of GBH.
The case has also drawn political attention. Gideon Armos, the Lib Dem MP for Taunton and Wellington, said he was 'very concerned' by the incident and is in active discussions with the Prosser family to offer support.
In response, a Royal Navy spokesperson stated: 'We place great importance on our people always maintaining the highest standards of behaviour... In all cases of a criminal conviction, the Royal Navy will assess the implications for the individual's employment; however, the specific actions taken remain a private matter.'
