Two Army instructors have been dismissed and jailed after engaging in sexual activities with a teenage recruit and exchanging derogatory and inappropriate messages about her. Their actions have been labeled as ‘disgraceful, indecent, and misogynistic.’

Lance Sergeant Antony Pugh, 36, and Sergeant Connor Forgan, 32, exchanged boastful texts about their encounters with the 17-year-old trainee, referring to her in derogatory terms such as ‘little hotty’ and ‘naked maid,’ as revealed during a court martial.

The two men, who both have a history of service in Afghanistan, independently developed sexual relations with the recruit, whose identity remains protected by law.

In a stern rebuke, a military judge today criticized the instructors’ conduct, particularly highlighting Pugh’s actions as tantamount to ‘grooming.’

The court martial held at Bulford Military Court in Wiltshire found both soldiers guilty of engaging in sexual activities with a minor, violating their position of trust.

The British Army strictly prohibits any sexual relationships between trainers and trainees.

 LSgt Pugh was today jailed for 20 months and Sgt Forgan was jailed for 16 months.

LSgt Pugh, in his mid-30s, was accused of showering the victim with ‘bondage equipment’ and gifts from a lingerie and sex toy website.

The trainee, who can’t be named for legal reasons, said she felt like she could not say ‘no’ to the higher ranking man twice her age when he came to her accommodation block.

Two Army instructors were convicted of sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust.  Pictured: Antony Pugh outside Bulford Military Court

At the time, the instructors and friends were based at Catterick, a North Yorkshire training establishment that turns civilians into soldiers. 

LSgt Pugh was a member of the Grenadier Guards, the most senior infantry regiment in the British Army.

Sgt Forgan was in the Welsh Guards, the highest senior infantry regiment in Wales.

Commander Edward Hannah, prosecuting, said the victim was a ‘vulnerable child’, who was ‘upset and lonely’ at Catterick.

Cdr Hannah said the victim had been messaging LSgt Pugh over WhatsApp and had arranged a time to meet him.

She then told him that she did not want to meet him at that location because she was ‘tired’ but he went to her accommodation block anyway to have sex with her.

The court heard that after having sex with Pugh, the recruit had to take STD and pregnancy tests, and also suffered an internal injury during the encounter.

Pugh and Forgan also shared lewd messages about the teenager after sleeping with her.

‘The messages between the defendants were degrading and demeaning,’ Cmdr Hannah said.

Cmdr Hannah said both defendants had shown degrees of planning in committing the offences and that they were in positions of trust owing to their rank.

‘The hierarchal structure of the military places power with rank, especially in a training facility,’ he said.

LSgt Pugh and Sergeant Connor Forgan (pictured) boasted in their sexual relations with the 17-year-old trainee and described her as a ‘little hotty’, it was heard

The alleged victim eventually told her army padre that she had sex with a member of training staff, who then reported this to the service police.

Rachel Beckett, mitigating for LSgt Pugh, said that there was not a ‘significant degree’ of planning orchestrated by him.

She said that he had ‘positive references’ and had an eight-year relationship with two dependent children.

Ms Beckett said he had not had any criminal convictions since 2002, which was for criminal damage, and he had four unrelated service disciplinary offences.

Beverley Cripps, mitigating for Sgt Forgan, claimed that the victim could not be seen as vulnerable.

She said he had been a very ‘talented’ soldier with a ‘very promising future’.

Ms Cripps said his behaviour did not constitute grooming because there was no evidence the victim felt ‘uncomfortable’.

She said he had two dependent children.

Ms Cripps said he had no previous criminal convictions and had two unrelated service disciplinary offences.

The court heard that the victim did not give a personal statement because she said she ‘just wished to move on’. 

Sentencing, Assistant Judge Advocate General Jane England: ‘There were rules in place at ITC Catterick to protect both trainees and instructors.

‘One such rule that there was to be no fraternisation between instructors and recruits.

‘Any communications were expected to be professional but you both engaged in unprofessional communication which quickly turned sexual.’

The judge said the offence they were convicted of existed to protect children from being ‘groomed and exploited’ by those in authority over them, and said both men in their own way had ‘preyed upon a vulnerable young recruit’.

She added: ‘As instructors you were well aware of where the line was, and you both willingly stepped over that line for your own sexual interests.

‘Power imbalance is exacerbated within the services, and service personnel are taught to follow the orders of those senior to them.

The two soldiers were sentenced at Bulford Military Court in Wiltshire

‘In an instructional environment such as this, instructors set the tone for the rest of the recruit’s career.’

The judge said that LSgt Pugh had committed a ‘significant’ amount of planning by sending a picture of a made-up bed to the victim.

When she did not turn up to the agreed location, he decided to go to her accommodation block with ‘lube and condoms’.

She also said that his actions constituted grooming and the messaging to the recruit had been ‘grooming behaviour’.

But she said he did not solicit photos from the victim because it had been a two way exchange.

Judge England said the circumstances were different for Sgt Forgan because the victim had not wanted to say anything negative about him but that the seriousness of the offence was still high.

She said: ‘In time, it might be that (the victim) sees what you did is on an even footing with LSgt Pugh.’

Judge England said: ‘You both refer to (the victim) in a disgraceful, indecent, and misogynistic manner.

‘She was a 17-year-old girl and she was not deserving of this.

‘She said she wants to move on, and we hope that she can.’

Judge England said that neither of the instructors had taken responsibility for their actions and continued to ‘deny’ having sex with the victim.

She said this was an important in relation to Army recrutiment, adding: ‘A female recruit choosing to go into a combat role and being targeted by her instructors in phase two training will have a chilling effect on other female recruits.’

Both men were dismissed from the Army and placed on the sexual offender register.

An Army spokesman said: ‘We recognise the courage shown by the victim to ensure this extremely serious crime could be investigated and taken to a successful conviction.’ 

Louise Sandher-Jones, the Minister for Veterans and People, said: ‘All those who choose to serve our country must be able to do so with dignity and respect. 

‘I commend the bravery of the victim for coming forward. Today’s sentencing marks another step in rooting out criminal and unacceptable behaviour.

‘We will ensure there is nowhere to hide for those who commit sexual violence. 

‘Through our Armed Forces Bill we are bringing about crucial reforms to better protect recruits and improve faith in the service justice system.’