The UK Justice Minister has announced a review of the handling of a sexual assault case involving a British academic and a US Air Force pilot, following concerns about jurisdiction and procedure. The case centers on Dr. Sarah Steele, who alleges she was drugged, strangled, and raped by Jacob Wulfson, a US Air Force officer stationed at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk.

The incident took place in Cambridge and would typically have fallen under English criminal law, to be tried in a Crown court before a jury and judge. However, the case was instead prosecuted by a US military court through a court martial, after a jurisdiction agreement between US federal law enforcement and Cambridgeshire Police, which allowed the US military to take the lead.

Wulfson, 29, faced charges of “aggravated sexual assault” but was acquitted of rape. He was, however, convicted on two counts—strangling Dr. Steele and willfully disobeying a command not to contact her following the alleged assault. He received a six-month sentence imposed by an all-male panel of eight Air Force officers from the same base and was subsequently dismissed from the service. Wulfson will serve his sentence at RAF Lakenheath and is expected to travel back to the United States in September.

Dr. Steele, who waived her right to anonymity, described the court martial as a “degrading” and “aggressive” process that amounted to a “character assassination.” She told investigators that she had set clear boundaries before meeting Wulfson for the first time in December 2023, after connecting on the dating app Tinder in September. She messaged him with “ground rules” including “no means no,” “no hands on my neck,” and a request to use condoms. Dr. Steele said that Wulfson ignored these conditions, having sex without a condom while his hand was reportedly on her neck, rendering her unable to speak.

Samples and photographs were taken at a sexual assault referral center, but under US military law, forensic evidence including DNA was deemed inadmissible during the trial. Following his conviction, Wulfson opted to be sentenced by the panel rather than by the presiding judge, US Colonel Brian Thompson.

Justice Minister Jake Richards, speaking on BBC Radio 4, confirmed that a thorough and objective review of the case will be undertaken by the Ministry of Justice. He emphasized the seriousness of the matter and the need to scrutinize the details.

A US Air Force spokesperson defended the military justice process, stating it includes “strict procedural safeguards” designed to ensure fairness, transparency, and thoroughness throughout proceedings.