Two soldiers have been arrested after a Scots teenage recruit was sexually assaulted during his basic training.
A former Royal Military Police officer says he is shocked by revelations that a teenage Scots rookie soldier was sexually assaulted and filmed while carrying out his basic training. SAS trained Graham Yuill was part of the elite 177 Provost Company which provided armed escorts for senior military personnel and politicians in Northern Ireland during the height of the Troubles.
During his service Graham worked closely with the The Royal Military Police Special Investigation Branch (SIB) which is responsible for investigating serious crimes, including murder, rape and sexual assault, within the UK armed forces. Graham, from Glasgow, says the army needs to take urgent action to reduce what appears to be a rise in the number of sex attacks.
The 67 year old believes that failure to do so could affect future recruitment and deter young people from joining the armed forces. Yesterday we reported how a 17 year old male from Fife was sexually assaulted at his barracks by two fellow squaddies just weeks into their basic training.
Two soldiers in their 20s have been arrested after the young man was attacked last week at Catterick Army base in Yorkshire. Graham added: “The army is less than it was before but there seems to be more allegations of sexual assaults.
“It is the type of incident if not investigated properly could affect future recruitment and drive young people away including women. The army has to address this and ensure better training of senior officers to identify potentially vulnerable recruits and protect young people from assault and bullying,
“The army have to get a grip because of dwindling numbers. Perhaps some of the old timers have got to realise they have to move with the times.
“It has to be zero tolerance of any type of violence or harassment.”
One trainee soldier is said to have carried out the serious sex attack while a second filmed it. Another trainee soldier is understood to have overheard the attack being discussed in a toilet by the pair.
Senior officers were then alerted and two men, both in their mid-20s, were arrested by the Royal Military Police and placed in custody. It’s understood that mobile phones were seized and examined as part of the investigation.
Graham believes that last weeks incident will be investigated to a very high standard. He added: “I worked closely with the SIB in Monchengladbach, West Germany and Hong Kong for a total of four years whilst serving as a general duty military policeman.
“Allegations were always treated seriously when I was there, nothing was swept under the carpet. It won’t matter that the two suspects have only been in the army for a few weeks, they are subject to military law and treated just like anyone else.
“We were the first person to be called out when there was a sexual assault and it would then handed over to the SIB. It will be investigated very thoroughly.”
Graham is an author of books on the Novichok poisonings in Salisbury in 2018 and the IRA assassination of King Charles’s great uncle Lord Mountbatten in 1979. He has also worked as a private security consultant providing personal protection services at home and abroad.
Yesterday Fife Labour MP Melanie Ward urged the victim of the sex attack to contact her office if he would like support. Ms Ward, who represents Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy, said: “I am very concerned to hear about this and have raised it directly with the Ministry of Defence.”
The army’s Defence Serious Crime Command (DSCC) has confirmed the arrests. A spokesperson said: “Two members of the Armed Forces have been arrested following an investigation by the DSCC.
“As the matter is subject to an ongoing investigation, we will not comment further.”
Last year, a record £3.2million was paid to compensate victims of rapes and other sexual assaults by military personnel, including £2.3million to Army staff.
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