A TEENAGER who claimed he was bullied at an Army base has won a discharge from the military after going absent without leave (awol) for a year.

The 18-year-old, who does not want to be identified, said he endured months of verbal abuse at the hands of a corporal at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire.

He alleged the corporal threw a television at him, spat in his drink, offered to fight him and humiliated him in front of other soldiers.

The teenager said he was so traumatised that he went awol on and off for a year because he could not bear to return to the base.

The youngster, from Bishop Auckland, County Durham, faced going to military prison but won a discharge from the Army after his family hired a solicitor to fight the case.

He said he had reported the allegations to the military police, who told him they would investigate, but the corporal had moved to another base.

The teenager's mother said she believed other youngsters were being bullied.

She said: "I know of one woman whose son was beaten up, but they won't report it in case it gets worse.

"I must have phoned them about 18 times to tell them what was happening. I spoke to everybody from lance corporals to majors.

"Why should these lads be punished when they go awol because of bullying? If they sorted that out there would be no reason for them to leave."

The teenager joined the Army in September 2002 and spent 42 weeks at Bassingbourne base, in Hertfordshire, before being transferred.

He said: "I liked it there but it all changed when I came to Catterick.

"The corporal didn't just have a go at me, he would be like that with others."

A judge advocate ordered the youngster to be detained as punishment for going awol. He was arrested by police months later while the case was waiting for appeal.

His solicitor applied for bail and argued with Army officials that the teenager should be discharged.

Justin Hugheston-Roberts, of Forces Law, which links service personnel with specialist solicitors, said: "The allegations of bullying were made very clear to the Army."

Garrison commander Jonny Hackett has told families he has a zero tolerance attitude to bulling.

A spokeswoman said: "We can't comment on individual cases, but if individuals come to us alleging they are being bullied we take it very seriously."