Army recruit's dream shattered by abuse

By Mario Cacciottolo
BBC News

Simon Ikins says his career plans have been ruined

Ever since he was a boy, 18-year-old Simon Ikins wanted to become a paramedic.

To help him achieve his lifelong dream he joined the Royal Army Medical Corps, with the intention of becoming a combat medical technician.

His plan was to pick up a comprehensive set of medical skills so he could eventually become a civilian paramedic.

Simon, who is from Clayton in Staffordshire, joined the Army in July last year, aged 17.

But he suffered abuse at the hands of a training sergeant and as a result left soon afterwards, no longer able to face a future in the military.

Now the teenager is pursuing a civil action against the Army for a claim of damages for assault and battery.

Colour Sgt Christopher Broome was found guilty at a court martial following Simon's case, admitting eight counts of ill-treatment and one of battery.

Broome, from Kent, did not lose his rank or Conspicuous Gallantry medal awarded for bravery in Iraq in 2004.

Lifelong passion

A member of his local St John Ambulance brigade since the age of 10, Simon planned to remain in the Army for four years but only served 49 days.

His basic training, which was supposed to last 12 weeks, was at Sir John Moore Barracks in Winchester, Hampshire.

It was at the end of his second week, he says, that his time in the Army began to turn sour.

Broome came into my bed space and before I could say anything he made me lick dust off his hand. It made me feel physically sick Simon Ikins

"We were on the drill square with Sgt Broome.

"When he told us how to do the about turn on the march he said I hadn't got my thumbs parallel with the seams of my trousers.

"For that he hit me across both wrists with his pace stick."

A pace stick is a long stick carried by non-commissioned officer drill instructors as a symbol of authority and as an aid to military drill.

Further abuse

Simon said: "Shortly afterwards Broome said my left leg was not at a right angle when we'd carried out a manoeuvre, so he hit the back of my head once, which knocked my beret off."

But it was during week four of his basic training that Simon says he suffered the abuse which was to drive him out of the Army.

The particular incident happened during an inspection of the recruits' accommodation block, where Broome became unhappy because there was dust on the floor.

"He went up to one private, told him to stick his tongue out, scooped up dust and wiped it on his tongue," said Simon.

Colour Sgt Christopher Broome admitted charges of ill-treatment and battery

Simon says the Colour Sgt repeated this treatment with other recruits, some of whom were also made to eat boot polish which had been left smeared on a table.

"Broome came into my bed space and before I could say anything he made me lick dust off his hand. It made me feel physically sick.

"Then I incorrectly addressed him as Corporal, instead of Sergeant.

"He told me to lower my head and remove my beret. He took a good swing once at the side of my head and the second one was a lot harder, knocking me off balance.

"Everyone was scared. I felt like that was it, from then on my aim was to get out of there. It scared me to the point that I didn't know what he was going to do next."

Head injury

After being hit on the head, Simon replaced his beret and went to his first lesson of the day, but a lump "about the size of an egg" began to swell where he had been hit.

The Army should be ensuring that its recruits are properly trained and supported, not bullied or abused Solicitor Graham Alcock

Simon visited the base's medical centre, where he was asked by a nurse what happened.

When he explained, she reported the incident and the base's officers became involved, which led to an inquiry and Broome's eventual court martial. Simon was soon given a discharge from the Army.

"I felt sad because to leave the lads behind whom I had become close to," he said.

"And I thought it had probably ruined my last chance of becoming a paramedic. I felt very upset."

Since returning to his parents' home in August last year, Simon has returned to being a St John Ambulance volunteer. He has now got a job as a porter in a Staffordshire hospital.

"I'm told I'm less outgoing now, what happened has made me less confident. I now worry about getting everything right.

"At least my hospital job is a way into the NHS and I hope to end up as a paramedic.

"But my problems all slowed me down in the way I was intending to go and it's Broome's fault. I would have completed my Army training if it weren't for him."

Civil claim

Simon also says he's "extremely angry" at Broome's punishment.

"He should have got a little bit of jail time. Anyone in civilian life who assaulted somebody would not have got just a £1,000 fine.

"He took away my chance to be in the Army and see the world."

Staffordshire-based solicitor Graham Alcock, who is acting for Simon in his civil claim, said: "We feel he has a valid claim.

"The Army should be ensuring that its recruits are properly trained and supported, not bullied or abused."

An MoD spokesperson said: "The MoD pays compensation where there is a legal liability to do so.

"Any claim received by us will be considered on that basis."