Three Royal Marines have been thrown out of the military after taking part in a depraved initiation ceremony in front of revellers at a nighclub.

The marines, along with another man who joined in during the incident at DeVitos nightclub in Arbroath, could now face jail after they admitted charges of public indecency.

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

One of the marines, Luke Bowen, urinated on fellow servicemen Jordan Coia and Ben James before exposing himself in front of onlookers.

A fourth man, Craig Lynch, who is not in the military, then performed a sex act on another person during the incident.

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, which took place on June 2.

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

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

It is understood those three men remain serving Royal Marines.

Solicitor Nick Whelan, defending Coia, said: "This 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.

"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."

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