Army recruits ‘made to eat manure’ on training course

TEENAGE Army recruits were forced to eat manure during training, a court martial plea hearing into alleged abuse by 10 instructors has heard.

The defendants, all sergeants or corporals, are alleged to have ill-treated 12 recruits at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

The NCOS face 29 charges – 23 of illtreatment and six of battery – said to have taken place over a nine-day period in June 2014.

Victims were slapped or punched in the face, spat at, were grabbed by the throat, had their faces pushed into mud or were ordered to eat animal manure, it was claimed.

The defendants yesterday entered not guilty pleas at the court martial centre in Bulford, Wilts. The court martial will begin on Feb 12 next year.

Sgt Simon Girault, of the 1st Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, denied four counts of battery and three counts of ill treatment. Sgt Steven Harrison, of the 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, and Sgt Thomas Bryan, of the 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment, each denied one count of battery and one of ill treatment. Sgt Brian Crawford, of the 152 North Irish Regiment, Royal Logistics Corp, denied six counts of ill treatment, and Cpl Andrew Armitage, of 156 Regiment, denied one charge of ill treatment. Sgt Mark Graham, of the HQ Defence Food Services School, RLC, and Acting Sgt Steven Duncan, of 1st Battalion Scots Guards, both denied four counts of ill treatment.

Acting Sgt Daniel Royle, of the 1st Battalion, Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, Cpl Simon Thomas, 2nd Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment, and Acting Sgt Robert Comley, of the Queen’s Dragoon Guards, each deny one count of ill treatment. They were all granted unconditional bail.