Three Royal Marines have been thrown out of the military after taking part in a depraved initiation ceremony in front of shocked revellers at a nightclub, a court heard today.

The trio - along with a punter at DeVitos nightclub in Arbroath who joined in during the incident - could potentially now face jail after they admitted charges of public indecency.

Forfar Sheriff Court heard that the three Marines took part in the disgusting incident in the club's smoking area, which was caught on CCTV.

Ben James (left) and Luke Bowen took part in a depraved initiation ceremony

The court heard Luke Bowen urinated in the mouths of fellow Marines Jordan Coia and Ben James then placed his genitals in the pair's mouths.

Bowen then drank his own urine as well as that of others before shaking his private parts in front of onlookers.

A fourth man, Craig Lynch, who is not in the military and for whom no explanation was given as to why he decided to take part, then performed a sex act on another person during the incident.

However, despite admitting the charges none of the men will face being placed on the sex offenders register after the Crown accepted there was "no significant sexual element" to the crime.

Jordan Coia allowed Luke Bowen to urinate in his mouth in a nightclub

Lynch, 42, of Aberdeen, James, 22, of Thirsk, North Yorkshire, Bowen, 25, of Chichester, West Sussex, and Coia, 22, whose addresses were given as c/o RM Condor base in Arbroath pleaded guilty on summary complaint to a charge of public indecency.

Solicitor Nick Whelan, defending Coia, said: "This incident resulted in the ending of service for a number of these young men, including Mr Coia.

"What he thought would be a lifetime relationship with the military has come to an end after two-and-a-half years of service.

Craig Lynch took part in the depraved initiation even though he was wasn't in military

"The case has been hanging over these individuals and has prevented him obtaining employment as it is still pending."

Nick Markowski, defending James, said: "He was also discharged from the Royal Marines."

And Lynne Sturrock, for Bowen, added: "He's been discharged and now lives with his parents."

The incident took place in DeVito's smoking area and was captured on CCTV
The incident took place in nightclub DeVito's smoking area and was captured on CCTV

Sheriff John Rafferty deferred sentence on the four men for social work background reports and released them on bail meantime.

Jacob Holt, 21, Ryan Fowler, 23, Michael Byrne, 26, all care of RM Condor, had their not guilty pleas to a charge of public indecency accepted.

It is understood those three men remain serving Royal Marines.