The hearing officer advised him before the charge was read not to bother fighting it as it would just make things worse, surly not the correct procedure for such things
I stood on principle once, and had a letter from a solicitor advising a Wg Cdr of the error of his ways. I won the case in question and he positively destroyed my career in the following three years OJARs. High Rec to LTBF for example.
The above advice is a disgrace, but may well be reality. Especially if the advisor knew what (token) punishment was being proposed. What punishment was given?