Ten Army instructors face trial over alleged abuse of teenage recruits

Ten Army instructors have gone on trial accused of abusing teenage recruits at a training academy.

The defendants, who were instructors at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, face 25 charges of ill-treatment and six of battery.

The charges relate to 12 alleged victims over a nine-day period in June 2014.

It is alleged recruits were slapped or punched in the face, spat at, grabbed by the throat, had their faces submerged in mud or were ordered to eat animal manure.

The defendants, all sergeants or corporals who deny the charges, are on trial at the court martial centre in Bulford, Wiltshire.

They are:

:: Sergeant Simon Girault, of 1st Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, who is accused of four charges of battery and five of ill-treatment.

:: Staff Sergeant Steven Harrison, of 3rd Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery, who is accused of one charge of battery and one of ill-treatment.

:: Sergeant Thomas Bryan, of 2nd Battalion, The Mercian Regiment, who is accused of one charge of battery and one of ill-treatment.

:: Staff Sergeant Brian Crawford, of 152 (North Irish) Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps, who is accused of six charges of ill-treatment.

:: Corporal Andrew Armitage, of 156 Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps, who is accused of one charge of ill-treatment.

:: Sergeant Mark Graham, of the HQ Defence Food Services School, Royal Logistic Corps, who is accused of four charges of ill-treatment.

:: Acting Sergeant Steven Duncan, of 1st Battalion Scots Guards, who is accused of four charges of ill-treatment.

:: Acting Sergeant Daniel Royle, of 1st Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, who is accused of one charge of ill-treatment.

:: Corporal Anthony Thomas, 2nd Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment, who is accused of one charge of ill-treatment.

:: Sergeant Robert Comley, of The Queen's Dragoon Guards, who is accused of one charge of ill-treatment.