Alister French was a trainee in the Australian Defence Force when he says he was physically and indecently assaulted in the common room of an accommodation block at Latchford Barracks, near Wodonga in Victoria last year.
Warning: This story contains images and details some people may find disturbing.
"It's still very difficult for myself to go over that night. Look at the footage. I still to this day have nightmares and night terrors of the incident happening," Mr French told 7.30.
7.30 has aired footage of the attack which shows Mr French bound in electrical tape and gagged before being set alight, choked, having chilli rubbed in his face and eyes, and at one point a penis pushed against his head.
"I don't think at this point it's an allegation. I think the torture is not in dispute," Mr French's lawyer, Mick Bainbridge from Operation Legal Australia, told 7.30.
The up-to-45-minute incident was filmed by a fellow trainee who Mr French and his lawyers say was a serving member of the Defence Force.
"At the time the people I was living with thought it was a joke. I was mentally and physically fatigued and I thought it's just easier to go with it than try and fight it and have an argument," Mr French said.
"I allowed them to tie my hands and my feet, but it escalated very quickly into me being fully restrained," he told 7.30.
Medically discharged
Mr French's dream of a career in the Defence Force is over. He was medically discharged earlier this year less than two years into a six-year traineeship.
His mother Lisa French still can't believe what happened to him.
Mr French only showed his mother and lawyers the video recently.
"I was embarrassed and ashamed to tell my parents that this had happened … what had sort of gone on. I was fearful of the people who had done this to me, but also my officers," he said.
"When he showed me, I was speechless, I couldn't believe what I saw," Ms French told 7.30.
"It's bastardisation and it seems to be accepted."
Defence declined to be interviewed. It told 7.30 in a statement that it takes all allegations of unacceptable behaviour seriously.
And it had investigated all of Mr French's complaints in 2020.
In relation to the video Defence says it is a "new allegation" and has "strongly encouraged any material evidence of such behaviour be referred immediately to the civilian police for investigation".
Mr French's lawyers say that is what they have recommended.
Mr French told 7.30: "To this day [the incident is] still having quite a significant impact on my life."
Lawyer Mick Bainbridge said they'll be taking Defence to court.
"We want to make sure this young man can rebuild his life and face off with these traumas and move into a healthy existence," Mr Bainbridge said.
Defence Minister Peter Dutton told 7.30 the incident was "very disturbing".
"I feel for Alister, for his family," he said.
"I'll send this very clear message to anybody within the Australian Defence Force that that behaviour is completely unacceptable."
