British soldier granted bail on kidnapping and other charges in Belize

A Belize High Court has granted bail to a 30-year-old British army soldier, who has been accused of kidnapping, theft, harm and damage to property, his attorney, Orson “OJ” Elrington, has confirmed.

Elrington said Justice Ricardo O’Neil Sandcroft had imposed “some very, very strict conditions” on Perry Stratford, who is accused of abducting his wife-to-be, Gabriela Vanutterbeeck, on Christmas Eve, seizing her cell phone, and beating her up.

Stratford, who is attached to the British Army Training Support Unit in Belize, was offered BDZ$10,000 (One Belize dollar=US$0.49 cents) bail.

Elrington said bail conditions include “but are not limited to the fact that he cannot leave the premises at Price Barracks” and “he must report every single day to the military police and of course, the normal conditions apply that if, he cannot get into, he cannot be accused of any other matter while he is out on bail, and obviously, he cannot contact the virtual complainant in this matter”.

CMC/