Army instructors deny punching teen recruits in Yorkshire

Six Army instructors have denied a host of charges related to the abuse of teenage recruits at a base in Yorkshire.

The non-commissioned officers face 24 charges in total. Thirteen of the charges relate to ill-treatment, 10 of battery and one of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

All the charges are said to have taken place over a seven day period in June 2014 against 14 recruits at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate.

The alleged victims claim they were either physically restrained and had water poured in their face, their heads pushed under water, or were punched or spat at.   

The defendants are:

• Sergeant David Harley, of the Scots Dragoon Guards, who is accused of one charge of ill-treatment and three charges of battery.

• Sergeant Anthony Owen, of The Parachute Regiment, who is accused of six charges of ill-treatment and one charge of battery.

• Sergeant Jonathan Carter, of 1st Battalion, Royal Horse Artillery, who is accused of two charges of ill-treatment, one charge of battery and one charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

• Corporal Hassan Ghaith, of The Parachute Regiment, who is accused of three charges of ill-treatment and two charges of battery.

• Colour Sergeant Scott Dyson, of the Infantry Battle School, who is accused of three charges of battery.

• Former Lance Corporal of Horse Stephen Warren, of the Household Cavalry Regiment, who is accused of one charge of ill-treatment. 

A court martial will talk place next year on a date yet to be fixed and the defendants have been released on unconditional bail

In court the defendants spoke only to give their names and to enter no guilty pleas during the preliminary hearing in Bulford, Wiltshire.

A court martial will talk place next year on a date yet to be fixed. The defendants have been released on unconditional bail.