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12
Nov 2021
Harrogate Army Foundation College instructor demoted for punching teenage soldiers
A British Army instructor who told junior recruits at Harrogate's Army Foundation College "you're mine now, bitches" has been demoted after being convicted of punching teenage soldiers.
Corporal Kimberley Hey worked as part of the directing staff at the college on Penny Pot Lane, where junior soldiers undergo training for six months, split into three terms of around six weeks.
Following a court martial, Corporal Hey was found to have hit one 16-year-old in the stomach on his first day of training and delivered a similar blow to another recruit because he had 'smirked' at her.
Reducing the 34-year-old in rank to Lance Corporal, Judge Advocate Alistair McGrigor told her that although the punches were at a 'low level' she had 'abused' her relationship with the recruits and her acts had the potential to 'erode public trust' in the armed forces' training.
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Cpl Hey, who has served in the armed forces for 18 years, had denied the charges, insisting her actions only amounted to 'mutual flicking' that was part of 'bonding' with the soldiers.
But she was found guilty during a three-day trial at Bulford Military Court, Wilts, of two counts of battery relating to junior recruits Craftsman Joseph Wiggin and Craftsman Jonathan Bryan.
She was acquitted of six other charges of battery relating to three other soldiers including allegations that she had punched recruits for failing in tests.
'You're mine now, bitches'
One trainee told the court martial Cpl Hey, of 3rd Regiment Royal Logistics Corps, told new recruits, 'You're mine now, bitches' shortly after they first arrived.
Signaller Hannah Harwood, who gave evidence via video link from the Falkland Islands, spoke of multiple incidents on 'the company line' — a line running down a corridor at the base along which recruits would line up. She said:
Craftsman Wiggin told the court Cpl Hey had punched 'everyone in the platoon' on their first day in training, when he was just 16 years old.
Cfn Wiggin said:
'Strict but fair'
Craftsman Bryan told the court:
Handing down the sentence, Judge Advocate McGrigor said:
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