Two Army instructors have been sentenced to jail for engaging in sexual activities with a teenage recruit. Lance Sergeant Antony Pugh, 36, and Sergeant Connor Forgan, 32, were found guilty of forming separate sexual relationships with the 17-year-old trainee, in violation of military regulations. The court martial, held in Bulford, Wiltshire, revealed that the inappropriate actions occurred at the infantry training center in Catterick, North Yorkshire, where the instructors were stationed.
Despite denying the charges initially, Pugh and Forgan were convicted by a court martial board after a trial. Both men, who had served in conflict zones such as Afghanistan, were dismissed from their military positions. According to Commander Edward Hannah, the recruit chose not to provide a victim personal statement and wanted to move on from the incident.
During the trial, it was disclosed that the recruit had to undergo STD and pregnancy tests and suffered internal injuries after the encounter with Pugh. The court highlighted the degrading nature of the messages exchanged between the defendants. Rachel Beckett, Pugh’s defense attorney, requested a suspended prison sentence citing his potential for rehabilitation and family circumstances. Similarly, Beverley Cripps, representing Forgan, acknowledged the inappropriate nature of the messages and emphasized his otherwise positive service history.
Assistant Judge Advocate General Jane England emphasized the breach of rules at the training center, where instructors were prohibited from engaging in non-professional communications with trainees. The judge condemned the defendants for their disrespectful and misogynistic treatment of the underage recruit. England highlighted the need to protect minors from exploitation by authority figures, particularly within military hierarchies.
Pugh received a 20-month prison sentence, while Forgan was sentenced to 16 months. Both were demoted and discharged from the Army, in addition to being placed on the sex offenders register for a decade.