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Deepcut: Army recruits 'viewed as a sexual challenge' Deepcut: Army recruits 'viewed as a sexual challenge'
(about 5 hours later)
Some military officers view new recruits as a "sexual challenge", a senior Army officer told the inquest into the death of a teenage soldier.Some military officers view new recruits as a "sexual challenge", a senior Army officer told the inquest into the death of a teenage soldier.
The inquest in Woking is investigating the death of Pte Cheryl James, 18, from Denbighshire, who was found dead at Deepcut barracks in Surrey in 1995. The court in Woking heard of a "toxic" environment at the Deepcut barracks in Surrey where Pte Cheryl James, 18, from Denbighshire, was found dead in 1995.
She was one of four who died there over five years amid claims of bullying. A senior soldier spoke of a sexualised atmosphere, indiscipline and inadequate supervision at the base.
Brig John Donnelly, who is responsible for Army welfare, said not all personnel shared its desired values. A fellow recruit said Pte James had been chased round a room by a sergeant.
Coroner Brian Barker QC said at the start of the inquest - the second to be held after the original open verdict was quashed - that he would consider the impact of any sexual abuse on Pte James but not on any wider culture of such behaviour at the army training base. Pte James was one of four recruits to die from bullet wounds at the base between 1995 and 2002.
'Prone to indiscipline' An initial inquest into her death recorded an open verdict but that was overturned by the High Court, which ordered the new hearing.
Asked by counsel to the coroner Bridget Dolan whether the Army accepted that "some officers saw recruits as a sexual challenge", Brig Donnelly, the Army's director of personal services, said: "Yes we do, sadly not everybody subscribed to the set of values that we wish. 'Sexualised atmosphere'
"It's not a problem unique to the military... I would recognise that there are certain element of military culture that can accentuate that." Alison Foster QC, representing Pte James's family, said a report in 2002 had suggested the atmosphere at Deepcut led to soldiers becoming "bored, demotivated and increasingly prone to indiscipline", creating a "psychological disadvantage" to weaker individuals.
The inquest heard that the large numbers of soldiers awaiting training at Deepcut at the time of Pte James's death in 1995 resulted in them becoming "bored" and "increasingly prone to indiscipline". She suggested to Brig John Donnelly, who is responsible for Army welfare, that there was a heavily sexualised atmosphere at Deepcut, with "abuse and misuse of power".
Brig Donnelly replied: "There was certainly a sexualised atmosphere at Deepcut, yes."
Ms Foster said: "Do you accept that this could present a morally chaotic environment for a young female person of teenage years? The pressure on a young female recruit could be intolerable, couldn't it?"
'Have his way with her'
Brig Donnelly replied: "Yes. We did not have the structures in place to provide a proper duty of care."
Asked by counsel to the coroner Bridget Dolan whether the Army accepted that "some officers saw recruits as a sexual challenge", Brig Donnelly, who is the Army's director of personal services, said: "Yes we do. Sadly, not everybody subscribed to the set of values that we wish."
Jane Worboys, who did her basic training with Pte James after joining up in May 1995, said shortly before her death Pte James was locked in a room by a sergeant who chased her and "tried to have his way with her".
She said after hearing a shot on the morning Pte James died, a civilian guard told her that she had shot herself. Ms Worboys said: "I told her Cheryl wouldn't have done that."
Who were the Deepcut four? Background to the deaths and timeline of eventsWho were the Deepcut four? Background to the deaths and timeline of events
A report commissioned since Pte James's death said the Army was "ill equipped to manage the kind of welfare issues generated by young soldiers, many of whom were under 18 and away from home for the first time". On the third day of the inquest into Pte James's death, Woking Coroner's Court heard sexual activity was so rife at the barracks that a room was unofficially put aside for young men to have sexual relationships, which were banned in rooms.
Surrey Police reviewed the initial military police investigation into the death of Pte James, from Llangollen, who was found with a bullet wound to her head at the barracks in November 1995. Ms Foster suggested there was a misogynistic atmosphere at Deepcut, adding: "The pressure on a young female recruit could be intolerable, couldn't it?"
During Tuesday's hearing, the court heard that a subsequent review criticised "sub-standard" interviews with witnesses and found two soldiers questioned at an early stage should have been interviewed again. Brig Donnelly replied: "Yes. We did not have the structures in place to provide a proper duty of care."
The inquest continues.The inquest continues.