Teenage incomers complained of being kicked, punched and forced into sick initiation ceremonies.

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Instructors responsible for 16-year-old male and female recruits, who are still classed as children, faced courts martial or disciplinary hearings for offences including theft, drug taking and downloading child sex images.

They were based at Army recruit training colleges in Catterick, Winchester, Pirbright and Harrogate — which alone amassed 107 charges.

The figures, covering the last eight years, were revealed following a Freedom of Information (FoI) request by The Sun on Sunday. The findings have led to calls for a “root and branch” reform of how young soldiers are trained.

A second FoI for the same period showed 186 recruits self-harmed and more than 600 recruits, personnel and army instructors were treated for mental health issues while at training centres.

Colonel Philip Ingram, a former Army Intelligence Officer, said: “These figures are disgusting. All we hear from the Army and MoD is that inappropriate behaviour will not be tolerated yet it continues to happen again and again and again.”

An Army spokesman said last night: “Soldiers and officers at all levels of the British Army are held to the highest standards.

“If individuals fail to meet these standards then appropriate action is taken.”