This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-35550343

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Deepcut inquest: Army recruits 'took illegal drugs' Deepcut inquest: Army recruits 'took illegal drugs'
(about 3 hours later)
Army recruits were left running around taking illegal drugs and drinking while under age, an inquest into the death of a teenage soldier has been told.Army recruits were left running around taking illegal drugs and drinking while under age, an inquest into the death of a teenage soldier has been told.
The court heard of chaos and lack of supervision at Deepcut Barracks in Surrey, where Pte Cheryl James, 18, was found dead from a single bullet wound.The court heard of chaos and lack of supervision at Deepcut Barracks in Surrey, where Pte Cheryl James, 18, was found dead from a single bullet wound.
One of the last people to see her alive described Deepcut as a "prison camp".
WO1 Sarah Ditchfield, who trained with Pte James, admitted taking illegal drugs with recruits at a nightclub.WO1 Sarah Ditchfield, who trained with Pte James, admitted taking illegal drugs with recruits at a nightclub.
She said Pte James had taken speed, a class B amphetamine.She said Pte James had taken speed, a class B amphetamine.
"If she went out she would take something, she would take speed," WO1 Ditchfield told Woking Coroner's Court. "If she went out she would take something," WO1 Ditchfield told Woking Coroner's Court. "We were 17-year-old kids who had money in our pockets.
"We were 17-year-old kids who had money in our pockets, there was nothing else for us. "There wasn't enough NCOs (non-commissioned officers) to control the amount of recruits they had."
"There wasn't enough NCOs (non-commissioned officers) to control the amount of recruits they had at the time."
Pte James, from Llangollen in Denbighshire, was one of four recruits to die from bullet wounds at the base between 1995 and 2002.Pte James, from Llangollen in Denbighshire, was one of four recruits to die from bullet wounds at the base between 1995 and 2002.
An initial inquest into her death in 1995 recorded an open verdict but that was overturned by the High Court, which ordered the new hearing.An initial inquest into her death in 1995 recorded an open verdict but that was overturned by the High Court, which ordered the new hearing.
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
WO1 Ditchfield broke down in tears as she recalled being told about her friend's death and said Pte James's boyfriend Paul Wilkinson was "in bits". WO1 Ditchfield broke down in tears as she recalled hearing about her friend's death and said Pte James's boyfriend Paul Wilkinson was "in bits".
She also spoke about Pte James having a second relationship with another recruit, James Carr-Minns. She also told how Pte James had a second relationship with another recruit, James Carr-Minns.
"I don't think she wanted to let anyone down...and found herself in a situation where she didn't want to finish with one of them," said WO1 Ditchfield. "[She] found herself in a situation where she didn't want to finish with one of them," said WO1 Ditchfield.
Another former Deepcut recruit Marina Fawcett told the inquest Pte James was desperate to leave the Army and had asked her to go AWOL (absent without leave) with her. 'Prison camp'
"It was more than a passing comment because it was what she wanted to do," Ms Fawcett said. A statement by Nicola Clifford - one of the last people to see Pte James alive - was read to the court. It said: "Her demeanour seemed fine and she was pleasant to me.
On another occasion Pte James "joked" about killing herself, she added. "I would describe Deepcut as a prison camp where we were not allowed to have a life."
"She literally mentioned 'we're going to shoot ourselves on guard duty one day aren't we?' and I said yes," Ms Fawcett said. Another former Deepcut recruit, Marina Fawcett, told the inquest Pte James was desperate to leave the Army and had "joked" about killing herself.
"She literally mentioned 'we're going to shoot ourselves on guard duty one day aren't we?' and I said 'yes'," Ms Fawcett said.
"She was saying it as general banter... I don't know why she said it, it just sounded like a laugh like when someone says something stupid.""She was saying it as general banter... I don't know why she said it, it just sounded like a laugh like when someone says something stupid."
Ms Fawcett said one of the training sergeants "had a bit of a thing" for Pte James and "basically wanted to get it on with her" but she turned down his advances. Ms Fawcett said one of the training sergeants "had a bit of a thing" for Pte James but she rejected his advances.
"She said he was horrible," she said."She said he was horrible," she said.
"They (the senior officers) were on a power trip and they got a buzz off it." "They [the senior officers] were on a power trip and they got a buzz off it."
Pte James had been called a "slag" by fellow trainees, the inquest heard.Pte James had been called a "slag" by fellow trainees, the inquest heard.
Ms Fawcett said that on the morning of Pte James's death they had an argument about her love life.Ms Fawcett said that on the morning of Pte James's death they had an argument about her love life.
"I might have been winding her up but I knew in a couple of minutes she would be fine," she said."I might have been winding her up but I knew in a couple of minutes she would be fine," she said.
"That was the last time I seen her. We were all in the guard room and she just seemed her normal self, she seemed fine." "That was the last time I seen her. She just seemed her normal self, she seemed fine."
Heather Williams, who taught Pte James for five years, said her problems stemmed from the fact she was adopted.
She told the inquest: "She was emotional about not knowing her true background and wanted to know where she belonged.
"She had an antisocial attitude and was a tough nut to crack."
"When I found out about her death I was shocked, but not surprised," she said.
The inquest continues.The inquest continues.