AN Army training instructor was cleared today of neglecting his duty over the alleged bullying and ill-treatment of young recruits.

Colour Sergeant Michael Hetherington was formally cleared of two charges brought under the Army Act 1955 at a court martial at the Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire.

Assistant Judge Advocate General Paul Camp directed the military panel to return a not guilty verdict against Colour Sergeant Hetherington, of the 1st Battalion The Rifles, after he was accused of failing to report that recruits had complained of being beaten and bullied by training officers at Catterick.

The charges relate to complaints made by three recruits that they were subject to bullying behaviour by ex-Corporal Stuart Pagett and Corporal Christopher Jakeman, of the 2nd Battalion The Rifles, who are facing trial for mistreating soldiers during training.

The judge also directed the jury to return not guilty verdicts against Pagett and Jakeman for two of the eight mistreatment charges they face between them.

Ex-Rifleman Thomas Pearson, Kingsman Matthew Lucas and Rifleman Derek Antwi-Boasiako told the court they were beaten, kicked, and punched by Jakeman and Pagett for making mistakes during their training.

The pair faced eight charges between them covering a period between October 2007 and January 2008.

The court has heard how Pagett attacked Rifleman Antwi-Boasiako in a toilet after the young soldier tapped him on the shoulder during a circuit training exercise, mistakenly believing him to be a fellow recruit. He punched him in the chest and arms and damaged his finger during the beating.

He allegedly kicked ex-Rifleman Thomas Pearson in the ribs and head for falling behind in a steeplechase exercise.

Jakeman was also accused of mistreating ex-Rifleman Pearson by kneeing him in the groin as a punishment for forgetting his combat armour before an exercise, and pushing the recruits head against a door frame.

But Pagett was today cleared of punching ex-Rifleman Pearson in the stomach after finding his locker untidy, while Jakeman was formally cleared of punching Kingsman Matthew Lucas.

The two instructors continue to deny the remaining six charges between them covering the period between October 2007 and January 2008.