Private McGregor-Freeburn

In June 2024, Private McGregor-Freeburn, a junior soldier at the Army Foundation College (AFC) in Harrogate, was convicted on two counts of sexual assault by penetration against an under-18 female recruit. The assaults occurred while the victim was on the medical wing, exploiting her vulnerable state during recovery.

This case is part of a disturbing series of sexual offences at AFC, where recruits under 18, particularly girls, face heightened risks. CRIN's evidence to the Defence Subcommittee details that in 2021 alone, 22 recruits—mostly girls—were victims of sexual offences, with perpetrators including staff and fellow recruits. McGregor-Freeburn's conviction, occurring after the Army's Zero Tolerance Policy, illustrates persistent issues in preventing peer-on-peer abuse within the training establishment.

• CRIN submission: 'In June 2024, junior soldier Private McGregor-Freeburn was convicted for twice abusing an under-18 female recruit via sexual assault by penetration while she was on the medical wing.'
• Reference: R v McGregor-Freeburn 2024.

The incident contributes to the 91 under-18 victims of sexual crimes in the armed forces since 2021, as per MoD data. CRIN recommends mandatory reporting of such abuses to civilian police and independent surveys of recruits' experiences to address the culture of maltreatment at AFC, where bullying, harassment, and sexual exploitation remain prevalent despite regulatory oversight.