A top-performing officer cadet at Sandhurst has thanked the Army for putting him on the right track.

Officer cadet Kidane Cousland, who grew up on a housing estate in Tottenham, says had he not signed up as a 16-year-old he would be dead or in prison.

Now 24, he served in Afghanistan in 2011 with 29 Commando, Royal Artillery.

He is among only a handful of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) cadets to be awarded the “sword of honour” for coming top of his intake.  More