Victims of Air Cadets abuser Ronald Hardman recover £2.5MILLION from Ministry of Defence

Abuse victims have recovered nearly £2.5million from Ministry of Defence (MoD) bosses after they were attacked as young cadets.

Survivors took legal action against the MoD after being attacked by Ronald Hardman at 327 Air Training Corp in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire.

The former warrant officer, now aged 81, has received three different jail terms totalling 22 years for crimes against 17 young boys.

Victims are now receiving military compensation payments with individual settlements ranging from £150,000 to £750,000. 

However lawyers, who have fought for justice for three years, fear dozens more people are likely to be affected and have encouraged people to report their experience to the police.

Richard Pitts, Partner at Digby Brown Solicitors and specialist in military claims, said: “The scale of Hardman’s abuse is unlike anything we’ve seen before – he is undoubtedly the Savile of the cadet force. 

“Ever since his crimes first came to light eight years ago there’s just been a continuous prosecution and charge sheet against him – and rightly so. 

“The evidence paints a clear and consistent picture of what happened in 327 – which is Hardman weaponised his trusted position to target, groom and attack.”

Hardman’s crimes first came to light in 2018 when he was jailed for five years after being found guilty of abusing three cadets between 1981-95.

This sparked a massive police investigation where, after reportedly speaking with 300 former cadets, a catalogue of fresh allegations emerged. 

The following year in 2019 Hardman was then given a nine-year jail sentence after admitting to 15 further charges against 12 boys which related to lewd and libidinous behaviour and indecent assault. 

Then in 2025 Hardman was convicted for a third time at the High Court in Glasgow of molesting two other boys – this time being jailed for eight years. 

Mr Pitts added: “The passage of time should never prevent abusers from being brought to justice but the reality is that Hardman is now in his 80s so I’d encourage those who are yet to step forward to do so now while he can still be questioned and civil actions can be pursued.

“So far, we have recovered just short of £2.5m for seven victims and these settlements go towards helping support them in an adult life which Hardman’s crimes stole from them. 

“That’s why it is right for the MoD to compensate victims – the abuse was carried out by their man, on their watch, and we will continue to support all people affected by these disgusting crimes.”

More coverage of this story has been reported in The BBC, Scottish Daily Express and Daily Record.