Two Army instructors jailed for the sexual abuse of a teen recruit

Last week, there another report of the appalling sexual abuse of a young woman in our Armed Forces. 

Two Army instructors, Lance Sergeant Anthony Pugh and Sergeant Connor Forgan were dismissed from the military and imprisoned for the sexual abuse of a 17 year old recruit. They had been convicted last year by a court martial of sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust. 

Pugh was imprisoned for 20 months and Forgan for 16 months. They were also placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years.  

They were both based at the infantry training centre at Catterick, North Yorkshire which is responsible for the basic training and advanced training of soldiers joining the infantry. 

The court martial was told that both men had independently groomed the recruit and then formed sexual relationships with her. The recruit felt that “she couldn’t say no”. They then shared messages in which they boasted to each other about the sexual abuse of the young, vulnerable trainee which referred to her in a “disgraceful, indecent and misogynistic manner”.  

The sexual abuse occurred despite the training centre rules which stipulate that there should be no fraternisation between recruits and instructors. 

The case unfortunately follows a familiar pattern of a toxic culture of grooming and sexual harassment by more senior ranks, sexual assaults, misogyny, and institutional failures in our Armed Forces which we have previously commented on in relation to the sexual abuse of Jaysley Beck and Sophie Brook and case studies A, B and C who were referred to in a 2022 Defence Committee report.  

This reported sexual abuse also follows the reports in late 2025 that hundreds of women were sexually abused in Army medical examinations between the 1970’s and 2016 in institutional settings where recruits felt they were unable to object to the abuse because the abusers had absolute power over them. 

The court martial of Pugh and Forgan also commented on the power imbalance which is exacerbated in the armed services where service personnel are taught to follow the orders of those senior to them.  

Since the sexual abuse of Sophie Brook entered the public domain in 2022, the UK Armed Forces have introduced a Zero-Tolerance Policy against unacceptable sexual behaviour, a sexual harassment prevention programmes, a sexual harassment survey and structural changes including a new team who investigate the most serious complaints of harassment and bullying.   

However, the sexual abuse of this 17 year old recruit confirm that these reforms have not eradicated the problems or changed the culture in our Armed Forces. Embarrassingly for the Armed Services, one of the new Army Sexual Abuse Prevention Teams operate from the Catterick garrison where this sexual abuse occurred before the teams are rolled out more widely across other military sites. Clearly a lot more needs to be done to allow women in the Armed Forces to enjoy their career without sexual abuse or harassment.  

Jordans solicitors are acting on behalf of other vulnerable teenagers and young adults whom it is alleged were sexually abused in a number of different types of military institutions. 

Compensation is a small step towards taking control of your life and getting the justice you deserve.

We understand how difficult it can be for you to talk about the abuse you suffered. That’s why our specially trained abuse solicitors work closely alongside psychologists and barristers to support you both emotionally and legally.

Justice for abuse survivors should be accessible no matter how long ago it happened. That’s why we fought for a landmark change in the law, which allows an abuse claim to be brought before a court regardless of when it took place.

If you want to discuss the options that are open to you, please contact our specialist Abuse Team at Jordans Solicitors