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Two army recruits were allegedly forced to rape each other as part of an initiation ceremony in the Household Division regiment of the Welsh Guards.

The incident reportedly took place at Pirbright Barracks in Surrey and involved the men being forced to perform sexual acts on each other.

One of the soldiers involved has reportedly been discharged as a result of the distress caused by the "hazing ritual."

A source told the Sun on Sunday the "initiation" was caught on video and passed around the unit via WhatsApp and SnapChat.

"We can confirm an incident did take place and details were referred to the Royal Military Police for an initial investigation.

"No allegations of coercive or criminal behavior were made.

"However this behavior is unacceptable and administrative action was taken against those present, with disciplinary measures taken against one individual."

The allegations echo testimonies at an ongoing inquest into the shooting death of Private Cheryl James at Deepcut Barracks in 1995.

James, a young female trainee, was allegedly ordered to have sex with a fellow recruit the night before she was discovered shot dead.

The inquest, which began after a 20-year-old verdict was quashed, is the second to be conducted concerning the case. The original hearing lasted just one hour, and failed to address key files that were later found in the possession of Surrey Police.