RAF member jailed for disappearing off base and joining reality dating show

A member of the Royal Air Force has been sent to military prison after disappearing and joining a reality dating show.

Alex Henry, 28, who abandoned his post at an electronic warfare base, was jailed by a military court after appearing on Channel 4’s Married at First Sight.

Henry requested extra leave last winter but his request was denied by RAF Spadeadam’s commanding officer.

The Birmingham-born serviceman ignored the decision and attended the filming of the show.

He was arrested by military police on his return and sentenced to 34 days in military prison.

Henry served 24 days before being sacked by the RAF.

“He returned after filming of his own volition and handed himself into the military authorities,” Henry’s spokesman told The Sun.

“He was sentenced to 34 days in a military prison and served 24 as a model inmate.”

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Following the announcement of Henry’s appearance, a number of allegations were made against the 28-year-old about his relations with other women.

Domestic abuse charity Women’s Aid addressed his involvement in the series after the accusations against him emerged.

They said: “We are incredibly disappointed and concerned to hear that producers of Married at First Sight have taken the decision not to remove an alleged abuser from the latest series.

“Sadly, this decision demonstrates the lack of awareness that the production team still has when it comes to domestic abuse.”

Women’s Aid added: “At Women’s Aid, we would urge the producers to reconsider how they approach this, for the sake of the contestants to whom they have a responsibility to protect; and to signal to survivors that the entertainment industry takes their experiences seriously.”

A Channel 4 spokesman said in a statement: “MAFS UK contributors are subject to rigorous background vetting, including multiple independent psychological evaluations and a criminal record check before they can be cleared to take part.

“We cast contributors based on the information we are legally able to access and we continue to review this process to ensure checks are as thorough as legally possible.”

A Channel 4 advisor responded directly to those protesting his participation in a message.

The advisor said: “MAFS UK was filmed several months ago and is not live, so Alexander will feature in the programs that have been edited and are due for broadcast later this month.

“There will also be promotional activity on the channel’s social media platforms during this time, in which Alexander may appear.”

Henry, who is also a personal trainer who has ambitions of becoming a professional boxer, served as an Air Specialist which is a non-commissioned rank responsible for providing technical expertise.