the chain of command was on Friday given a conditional discharge in Magistrates' Court.

Walter Edward Benjamin Stevens, 27, of Sun Valley Road, Warwick was charged with missing military training last year between July 3 and July 12 and on June 14, June 26, September 29 and October 9.

He was also charged with arranging an interview under a false name with Governor Lord Waddington and failing to report a grievance with his commanding officers.

The self-employed wholesaler told the court his military obligations caused him financial hardship as he either had to close his business or hire staff to run it for him when he was due to report to Warwick Camp.

The court heard Stevens was exempted from overseas Regiment duty by the exemptions tribunal but was ordered to make up his time serving in Cadet Camp between July 3 and July 12.

The tribunal refused to exempt him from the rest of his service which is to end in eight months.

The court heard Stevens was recorded as being absent from the cadet camp although his lawyer Ed Bailey argued his client had been there but was told by the camp handyman to leave after three days.

The court also heard that Stevens took his case for total exemption from military service to the Governor. Mr. Francis said there was no disputing this but it was never proved he got the interview using a false name.

However, Mr. Francis agreed that Stevens had sidestepped the Regiment's chain of command by going to see the Governor.

Senior Magistrate Will Francis said he found the facts "somewhat special'' and was aware of Stevens' attempts to get out of the Regiment.

Mr. Francis imposed the conditional discharge with the condition that Stevens serve out his time in the Regiment.