Jonathan Beale
BBC Defence Correspondent

On the face of it, these were very serious allegations of widespread physical abuse of teenage recruits - children in the eyes of the law - but the court martial quickly unravelled.

Image source, Getty Images

The Judge Advocate was scathing about the way the Royal Military Police (RMP) handled the investigation. There were long delays in taking statements and evidence was lost or ignored.

Some of the teenage recruits had "no, or at very best vague, recollections" of the events and key witnesses, including Army instructors, weren't even spoken to.

Judge Alan Large concluded the RMP had carried out the case "in direct breach of their duty to investigate fairly and objectively".

This isn't the first time the RMP has been accused of bungling an investigation.

The human rights group Liberty said it should be a "wake-up call" for the Ministry of Defence and should force a rethink about the armed forces' system of justice.

More on one of the biggest investigations into the alleged abuse of teenage Army recruits in Britain which has collapsed today.

Image source, Getty Images

The investigation had considered complaints from a total of 40 recruits about 30 instructors - which led to the prosecution of 16 of them, all sergeants and corporals.

The allegations centred on how recruits, aged 16 and 17, were treated at training camp in Scotland in the summer of 2014.

Recruits claimed they were slapped or punched in the face, spat at, grabbed by the throat, had their faces submerged in mud or were ordered to eat animal manure.

However, it took two years to interview the soldiers involved under caution and another year before they were told they were being charged.

In addition, handwritten accounts made by some recruits shortly after the alleged abuse have never been found and the military court heard some recruits claim they were threatened into giving statements and to appear as witnesses.

Gemma Simpson's family say she "might be alive today" if her killer's treatment had been "properly managed".

Small businesses in Castleford have told the BBC they're worried about plans to build a new out-of-town shopping centre.

Image source, Axiom

The Lateral Property Group, the developers behind the planned 106-acre Axiom Shopping Centre, in Glasshoughton, say it'll be finished in 2021.

When complete it will be one of the biggest in the north of England and be built next to Xscape and the Junction 32 retail park off the M62.

Philip Lunn, from Lateral, says it's an "exciting" project: "We've worked very closely with the local community. It was one of the most supported planning applications the Department for Communities and Local Government has ever experienced."

A 15-year-old boy has been charged with attempted murder after a 24-year-old woman was stabbed in Sheffield over the weekend.

Image source, Google

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, also faces a charge of possessing an offensive weapon and has been remanded in custody.

A 27-year-old man who was arrested shortly after the incident in the early hours of Sunday morning has since been released without charge.

The injured woman remains in a serious but stable condition in hospital, according to police.

Police helicopter crews flying over Yorkshire and Lincolnshire are now using protective eyewear to protect them from laser attacks.

Three years ago,Yorkshire had the highest number of attacks in the UK, despite it being a criminal offence.

That number now appears to be falling:

BBC Look North presenters Harry, Amy and Paul are on their final leg of the day as they push and pull their famous red sofa across Yorkshire in aid of Sport Relief.

Today, they've been in West Yorkshire, starting in Pontefract at 08:00, and they're due to finish at Pugneys at 18:00.

Get along and give them some support if you can. Looks like they'll need it after this hill:

One of the biggest investigations into the alleged abuse of teenage Army recruits in Britain has collapsed.

Image source, Anna Gowthorpe/PA

Sixteen instructors at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate were accused of slapping and punching 28 recruits.

A judge branded the three-year Royal Military Police (RMP) probe "seriously flawed" as he halted the first of three courts martial.

There are now calls for senior RMP officers to be investigated.

BBC Weather Watchers

Take a look at these amazing pictures sent in by our BBC Weather Watchers of ice in some weird but cool formations during the current wintry snap.

This was taken in Pool and is ice which has built up on a hedge after cars went past and sprayed it with water overnight:

And ttis is ice which has formed on a plantation alongside Embsay Reservoir:

The family of Doncaster soldier Ben Parkinson, who lost both legs in an attack in Afghanistan, are pressing ahead with plans to sue the MoD after his pay was cut.

The family say the Lance Bombardier, who also suffered severe brain injuries, has been let down by the Army.

His parents said they have had to sell their home, used their pension funds and every penny they have to make up a shortfall in money for his care.

In a statement, the MoD said it was working hard to establish a new care package for Mr Parkinson and it recognises the family's frustrations.

Just in case you were rushing to get home to catch Flog It! or Pointless and you're in Bradford.

You might be about 20 minutes late:

Oli Constable
BBC Yorkshire Live

It's probably not quite the bird's-eye view you were thinking of but this little chirpy chap has got his eyes on traffic at Park Square Roundabout in Sheffield.

I can't quite make out what species it is (bird watchers to the rescue, please) but he certainly has built the perfect sheltered nest on the traffic light.

Wonder if the intermittent amber light will disturb his relaxing habitat though?

BBC Look North presenters Harry, Amy and Paul have just left Crofton on their Big 50 Sofa Challenge for Sport Relief.

Look at the reception they got from a local school:

Next stop is Walton before they get to Pugneys as their final destination of the day.

Don't forget this eight-day long marathon where the trio push, pull and drag the famous red sofa across Yorkshire is for a good cause:

A boss who has got his teeth into a new job and a paternity treble are among five things you may have missed in the EFL.

A jury at Leeds Crown Court has begun its deliberations in the trial of an 80-year old man accused of abducting and attacking an 18-year-old woman in 1972 in Sheffield.

Peter Pickering, dubbed the Beast of Wombwell, has been under a hospital order since admitting the manslaughter by diminished responsibility of Shirley Boldy, 14, in Barnsley in 1972.

A woman, who is now in her 60s, has told a jury at Leeds Crown Court how she thought she was going to be killed when she was violently raped by him just a few weeks before this killing.

Pickering denies rape and false imprisonment.

Police want to interview the man pictured below in connection with two thefts in York.

Image source, North Yorkshire Police

Goods were taken from a Selco Store on Osbaldwick Link Road in the city.

The thefts happened over two days - Sunday 25 and Monday 26 February 2018.

Police say another man could be involved with the thefts, two men were spotted leaving the scene in a grey Vauxhall Astra heading towards Osbaldwick link road.

Police in Kirklees have renewed their appeal to find two missing girls from Batley who have not been seen for almost two weeks.

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

Officers say Bernadett Berki,12 (pictured let), and Szimonetta Berki, 11 (pictured centre), could be with their three-year-old niece, Leonetta Bogdan (pictured right).

West Yorkshire Police say that they have links and extended family across Huddersfield, the Leicester area and the Hungarian community.

According to detectives, no other "third party" is involved. If you see them, contact police on 101.

A shopping, eating and performing precinct made out of shipping containers is set to open in York.

Image source, Spark:York

The project called Spark, in the city centre, will open to the public on Friday 4 May.

It has transformed a former garage site into space for local businesses.

City council leader Ian Gillies said he was "dead chuffed with the fantastic accolade".

A large fossilised clam shell, believed to have been formed 180,000 years ago, has failed to sell at auction in North Yorkshire.

Image source, Tennants

The 110cm (3.5ft)-wide shell, found in Kenya in 2017, is considered unusual as both sides are still attached.

They are prized by interior designers, who often convert them into luxury sinks or other decorative items.

At Tennants Auctioneers, in Leyburn, the clam was given an estimate of £7,000-£9,000 but failed to meet the reserve price.

According to Harriet Hunter Smart, from Tennants, the clams are often found by miners excavating limestone for the building industry, with this clam found using ground penetrating radar.