More than 150 allegations of sexual misconduct were recorded at Harrogate Army Foundation College over an almost seven-year period, new data has revealed.

The Penny Pot Lane college, which is the only basic junior training site in the British Army for recruits under the age of 18, has been dogged by allegations of abuse and bullying in recent years.

Veterans and people minister Louise Sandher-Jones released the figures in response to a written question by Labour MP for Swindon North, Will Stone.

Mr Stone asked for the number of complaints made by junior soldiers and their parents or guardians concerning “unacceptable sexual behaviour” at the army college between January 1, 2018, and November 30, 2024.

Ms Sandher-Jones said the information was not held in that exact format but revealed 159 sexual misconduct allegations were recorded against personnel serving at AFC Harrogate during that time.

“It is important to note that these figures include all army personnel located at AFC, regardless of whether they are staff or junior soldiers”, she added.

A total of 108 of the allegations were lodged before the Unacceptable Sexual Behaviour Policy – a Ministry of Defence policy which aims to ensure victims feel supported and listened to – came into effect in November 2022.

Ms Sandher-Jones told Mr Stone the college “reports every instance of unacceptable sexual behaviour under its zero-tolerance policy” and “actively encourages recruits to report concerns from day one”.

She cited Ofsted's 2024 report on the college's welfare provisions, which the army has repeatedly referred to when approached by the Stray Ferret with similar allegations, which found staff place a “very high priority on the care and welfare of recruits”.

It added recruits are “well aware” of the support available to them and how to access it when needed.

Yet the college has suffered repeated allegations of sexual harassment, abuse and bullying. 

Previous allegations

Last year, we published an account by a former AFC recruit who alleged another recruit tried to take his own life on-site due to incessant bullying.

Following an inquest into the death of ex-AFC recruit Jaysley Beck, a 19-year-old who killed herself at a barracks in Wiltshire in 2021 following a sustained period of harassment, we also spoke to her friend who said sexual harassment is “100% a systemic problem in the army”.

The friend, who we called Claire, alleged she was sexually assaulted by a man at her army base near Portsmouth. The man faced court martial but the case was swiftly dropped.

Most recently, a freedom of information request submitted by the Stray Ferret revealed five sexual offences alleged to have happened at the college were reported to North Yorkshire Police last year. A further five had already been reported to the force by July 7 this year.

Police later revealed the allegations included rape of a male aged 16 and over, sexual assault on a female aged 13 and over and sexual assault on a male aged 13 and over.

The figures released by Ms Jones are the latest blow to not only the AFC but the army as a whole, which regularly attracts national headlines for its treatment of women in particular.

The Armed Forces Sexualised Behaviours and Sexual Harassment Survey, released by the Ministry of Defence last week, found 32% of women in full-time roles in the armed forces reported being touched in a way that made them feel uncomfortable over the last year. 

Eight per cent reported being subjected to “sexual activity which they did not consent to”, compared to just 1% of men in full-time roles.

Around 40% of women in full-time roles reported “unwelcome comments made about their appearance, body and/or sexual activity”, while approximately a quarter reported unwanted attempts at establishing a romantic or sexual relationship with them, catcalling or wolf whistling, and rumours “of a sexual nature” being spread about them.

A reliable source last year told the Stray Ferret the college is a life-changingly positive experience for many recruits, but questions remain about what life is really like behind the gates of the Pennypot Lane site. 

But one thing is clear: Ofsted’s glowing report and the repeated allegations made against the AFC are worlds apart.

The Stray Ferret approached Mr Jones for comment. We asked what his interest in the army college is and what he thought of the figures, but we did not receive a response.