One of the RAF’s most senior officers has been suspended after neighbours complained to police after he was spotted nude in the garden.

54-year-old Air Marshal Andrew Turner has written a letter of apology after standing naked in the garden of his £1.4 million Oxfordshire home.

The RAF’s deputy chief has reportedly sent a letter to his neighbours apologising for the incident and the “absolutely unintentional” upset caused.

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Sources said Turner claimed he was "getting his dog's tennis ball" and that is why he "bared his backside" to his neighbour Simon Herbert, 54, his partner Lesley Stevens, 52, and 18-year old daughter. 

A source told The Sun newspaper: “Turner's neighbour saw him watching him and his family from his garden. He was on his own land but he was naked. He bared his backside at Simon.”

Turner was given a community resolution order which means he just had to apologise to Mr Herbert. 

However, The Sun also reports that sources close to the family say they are going to appeal as they want Turner to be prosecuted.

One said: "Turner had admitted he was naked to police.

"Simon told cops that Turner had flashed his backside to him, but then Turner said to them he was looking for his dog's tennis ball.

"Simon asked 'where was the dog then?'."

Turner, tipped to be the next RAF chief, was reportedly suspended for two weeks amid the police investigation after reporting the matter to his boss Chief Air Marshal Mike Wigston.

A message to RAF station commanders two weeks ago said Turner has “stepped back due to a personal matter”.

A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police told The Sun: “Thames Valley Police officers were called following reports of a public order incident which occurred at a property in Cane End, Oxfordshire on 10 August last year. Officers investigated thoroughly.

“Given the nature of the incident, following an investigation in which the suspect and the aggrieved were spoken to at length, and following discussions with the Crown Prosecution Service, it was decided that the most appropriate course of action would be to issue a community resolution order.

“This was issued to a 54-year-old man on Wednesday 9 February.”

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