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Cheryl James: Deepcut 'failed in duty of care to recruits' Cheryl James: Deepcut 'failed in duty of care to recruits'
(35 minutes later)
Deepcut army barracks failed in its duty of care to young recruits, a coroner looking into the death of a soldier found shot has said.Deepcut army barracks failed in its duty of care to young recruits, a coroner looking into the death of a soldier found shot has said.
Pte Cheryl James, 18, was found dead with a bullet wound to the head in 1995. She was one of four recruits to die at the base in seven years.Pte Cheryl James, 18, was found dead with a bullet wound to the head in 1995. She was one of four recruits to die at the base in seven years.
Coroner Brian Barker QC said there was a "sexualised" atmosphere at Deepcut.Coroner Brian Barker QC said there was a "sexualised" atmosphere at Deepcut.
But an allegation Pte James was coerced into sex the night before her death was "wholly without foundation".But an allegation Pte James was coerced into sex the night before her death was "wholly without foundation".
Fellow squaddie Mark Beards said Pte James was ordered by Sgt Andrew Gavaghan to have sex with another soldier, Ian Atkinson, the night before she died.Fellow squaddie Mark Beards said Pte James was ordered by Sgt Andrew Gavaghan to have sex with another soldier, Ian Atkinson, the night before she died.
The claim was strongly denied by both men.The claim was strongly denied by both men.
And the coroner ruled his claim "at highest was assumption, at its lowest was fantasy".And the coroner ruled his claim "at highest was assumption, at its lowest was fantasy".
In a narrative verdict, Mr Barker said there were far too few officers at the Surrey Barracks to train and look after the young squaddies, who were left bored and indisciplined.In a narrative verdict, Mr Barker said there were far too few officers at the Surrey Barracks to train and look after the young squaddies, who were left bored and indisciplined.
The malevolent culture at Deepcut BarracksThe malevolent culture at Deepcut Barracks
Who was Pt Cheryl James?Who was Pt Cheryl James?
Follow the latest live updatesFollow the latest live updates
"While some intermittent training was provided, there were too few permanent staff to deliver it and put into place a structured regime to occupy and meet a duty of care to those young men and women.""While some intermittent training was provided, there were too few permanent staff to deliver it and put into place a structured regime to occupy and meet a duty of care to those young men and women."
Given the "dearth" of a structured life, he said it was "unsurprising that trainees turned to each other for stimulation", he said.Given the "dearth" of a structured life, he said it was "unsurprising that trainees turned to each other for stimulation", he said.
While sexual relations were not prohibited between trainees, the extent to which they were able to have sex was "inappropriate".While sexual relations were not prohibited between trainees, the extent to which they were able to have sex was "inappropriate".
The coroner also found that there was evidence of inappropriate sexual relationships between commanding officers or instructors and trainees.The coroner also found that there was evidence of inappropriate sexual relationships between commanding officers or instructors and trainees.
Mr Barker said the Army accepted that some instructors "saw young females as a sexual challenge".Mr Barker said the Army accepted that some instructors "saw young females as a sexual challenge".
Pte James was in relationships with two men at the time of her death - Royal Engineer Simeon Carr-Minns and another soldier Paul Wilkinson.
Both men wanted to be in an exclusive relationship with her and were upset at the situation, the inquest heard.
On the day of her death, Pte Wilkinson went to see Pte James while she was on guard duty to give her an "ultimatum" to choose between them.
The inquest heard Pte James told him she she wanted to be with him and he left believing she was fine.
The coroner ruled that he did not consider Pte Wilkinson a suspect in Pte James's death.
Pte James, from north Wales, had been carrying out lone guard duty at the barracks when she was found dead, which the coroner said military rules should not have allowed.Pte James, from north Wales, had been carrying out lone guard duty at the barracks when she was found dead, which the coroner said military rules should not have allowed.
"It seems to me that lone armed guard duty is a potentially dangerous activity," he said."It seems to me that lone armed guard duty is a potentially dangerous activity," he said.
Non-commissioned officers (NCOs) meted out guard duty to trainees as punishment, which was against army rules.Non-commissioned officers (NCOs) meted out guard duty to trainees as punishment, which was against army rules.
The coroner also attacked the "haphazard" and "insufficient" provision of welfare support at Deepcut and criticised the lack of female officers.The coroner also attacked the "haphazard" and "insufficient" provision of welfare support at Deepcut and criticised the lack of female officers.
Mr Barker said it was regrettable there had not been a more thorough investigation at the time of Pte James's death, adding the inquest had been "a long and a difficult exercise".Mr Barker said it was regrettable there had not been a more thorough investigation at the time of Pte James's death, adding the inquest had been "a long and a difficult exercise".
He said that if Pte James's death been more fully and scientifically investigated in 1995, some of the "inconsistencies of memory" might have been avoided and the scientific evidence might have been of much better quality.He said that if Pte James's death been more fully and scientifically investigated in 1995, some of the "inconsistencies of memory" might have been avoided and the scientific evidence might have been of much better quality.
The inquest heard Pte James had mixed feelings about being in the Army but that when she left initial training at Pirbright she was a "poster for the Army".The inquest heard Pte James had mixed feelings about being in the Army but that when she left initial training at Pirbright she was a "poster for the Army".
Five months before her death, Pte Sean Benton, from Hastings in Sussex, died from a gunshot wound at the barracks.
Pte James chatted to a friend about this and said it would be "really easy to shoot yourself".
On another occasion, she told an electrician that the only way to get out of the Army would be to "put a gun to your head", but those with her took this as a joke.
The inquest, which is the second into Pte James's death, began in February and heard from more than 100 witnesses.The inquest, which is the second into Pte James's death, began in February and heard from more than 100 witnesses.
A first inquest into Pte James's death in December 1995 recorded an open verdict.A first inquest into Pte James's death in December 1995 recorded an open verdict.
This second inquest was ordered after High Court judges quashed the original findings.This second inquest was ordered after High Court judges quashed the original findings.
The mother of another soldier who died, Pte Geoff Gray, said she was also applying for the open verdict on her own son's death to be overturned.The mother of another soldier who died, Pte Geoff Gray, said she was also applying for the open verdict on her own son's death to be overturned.
Pte Gray, from Seaham, County Durham, was 17 when he was found dead from two gunshot wounds at the base in September 2001.Pte Gray, from Seaham, County Durham, was 17 when he was found dead from two gunshot wounds at the base in September 2001.
Diane Gray said: "This case opens the doors for the other families to find out what happened to their children.Diane Gray said: "This case opens the doors for the other families to find out what happened to their children.
"In the next few weeks we will be putting our application forward to the Attorney General to ask him to overturn our original verdict and look into new evidence and hopefully give us a new inquest.""In the next few weeks we will be putting our application forward to the Attorney General to ask him to overturn our original verdict and look into new evidence and hopefully give us a new inquest."
Surrey Police has apologised to the James family for the questioning by their barrister during the inquest, saying they showed "admirable resilience" throughout their long search for answers.Surrey Police has apologised to the James family for the questioning by their barrister during the inquest, saying they showed "admirable resilience" throughout their long search for answers.
"Any additional stress caused to the family during the inquest was not intentional and we apologise for any ways they feel Surrey police made the experience worse," it said in a statement."Any additional stress caused to the family during the inquest was not intentional and we apologise for any ways they feel Surrey police made the experience worse," it said in a statement.
Who were the Deepcut four? Background to the deaths and timeline of events.Who were the Deepcut four? Background to the deaths and timeline of events.