A TEENAGE soldier from the North-East has been discharged early from the Army after claiming he could not tolerate being bullied by an officer.

The 16-year-old, from Bishop Auckland, County Durham, became suicidal after his superior allegedly turned against him while he was stationed at the Army's Bassingbourn base, in Hertfordshire.

The young recruit, who has asked not to be identified, claims he was told by another officer that the only way to get out of the Army was to slash his own wrists.

The youngster has been left so traumatised by his ordeal that he now refuses to talk about what happened, his family said yesterday.

He had signed up just a few weeks ago but soon realised the Army was not for him.

Following protests by his parents, he was released from a month's contract ten days early so he could return home.

His mother said last night: "He was suicidal. It was mental bullying. As soon as he said he didn't want to be in the Army any more, his life became hell."

The soldier's parents contacted The Northern Echo during their son's time at Bassingbourn to ask for help in bringing him home.

He had told them that he would either jump the fence at camp, shoot someone or commit suicide if he was not discharged.

When contacted by The Northern Echo, Kevin McNamara MP, who is campaigning for an inquiry into non-combat Army deaths and bullying, agreed to intervene if the Army refused to listen.

"He was allowed out ten days early just because we contacted The Northern Echo," said the boy's father.

"During his leaving interview, they asked him five times how far I had gone with the Press. They were really worried when I mentioned Kevin McNamara's name and asked us not to get him involved - it was the ammunition we needed."

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defence said the Army did everything they could to help the recruit.

She said: "When soldiers join they are asked to sign a 28- day contract. It seems that from day one he did not want to be in the Army, but if he had been released then it would have set a precedent for others. He said he was not being physically abused but was tired of people shouting at him.

"This is the Army. We do try to motivate people but we would never encourage bullying."