Teen Army recruits ‘abused at college’

TEN Army instructors went on trial yesterday accused of abusing 12 teenage recruits.

The defendants allegedly abused the youngsters while they were at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

The non-commissioned officers face a total of 31 charges – 25 of ill-treatment and six of battery – relating to events said to have taken place over a nine- day period in June 2014.

The defendants, all sergeants or corporals, are alleged to have ill-treated 12 recruits in total in what is believed to be the Armed Forces’ biggest ever abuse case.

They are on trial at the court martial centre in Bulford, Wiltshire.

A reporting restriction was imposed by Assistant Judge Advocate General Alan Large and no details heard in the case can be published.

The trial is the first of three involving Army instructors at the battle camp, with a further six defendants due to appear later in the year for similar offences.

Judge Large said he will revisit the reporting restriction at the end of the third trial.

All of those facing charges in relation to the Harrogate training exercise have denied any wrongdoing.

Two of them deny additional charges related to offences that allegedly took place at a camp in Scotland.

‘Similar offences’