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Pte Sean Benton: Deepcut soldier's death was suicide, coroner rules Pte Sean Benton: Deepcut soldier's death was suicide, coroner rules
(35 minutes later)
The death of a young soldier at Deepcut barracks 23 years ago was suicide, a coroner has ruled after a new inquest.The death of a young soldier at Deepcut barracks 23 years ago was suicide, a coroner has ruled after a new inquest.
Pte Sean Benton, 20, from Hastings, was found with five gunshot wounds to his chest at the Surrey army base in 1995.Pte Sean Benton, 20, from Hastings, was found with five gunshot wounds to his chest at the Surrey army base in 1995.
He was the first of four young recruits to die between 1995 and 2002, with his death originally recorded as suicide.He was the first of four young recruits to die between 1995 and 2002, with his death originally recorded as suicide.
Delivering his conclusions at Woking Coroner's Court, Judge Peter Rook QC said three suicide notes were found after his death.Delivering his conclusions at Woking Coroner's Court, Judge Peter Rook QC said three suicide notes were found after his death.
"I'm satisfied that the fatal wounds were self inflicted," he said."I'm satisfied that the fatal wounds were self inflicted," he said.
He said the first round injured the soldier, but that a second round - fired by Pte Benton when two officers arrived at the scene - proved fatal.He said the first round injured the soldier, but that a second round - fired by Pte Benton when two officers arrived at the scene - proved fatal.
Notes to his friends and family were found afterwards. Notes to his friends and family were found afterwards, which Mr Rook said revealed his "settled intent to die".
The inquest has heard evidence from more than 170 witnesses since it began in January. In a note to his parents, Pte Benton said: "I'm sorry, I'll always love you all", while in a note to a friend he said: "Learn by my mistakes."
It was ordered following a family campaign, amid allegations of prolonged bullying at the base. The coroner described a litany of failures with the original investigation into Pte Benton's death, and said he was hampered by a failure to preserve evidence, poor photographs of the scene, and a lack of scrutiny of eyewitness accounts.
Pte Benton's sister Tracy Lewis, was at the hearing with the soldier's twin brother Tony. They and their family have fought for years for a full investigation into the case. "Even by the standards of 1995, the investigation into Sean's death was woefully inadequate."
The inquest heard Pte Benton had died shortly after being told he was going to be discharged. Summing up, Mr Rook said: "There was ample evidence available to those at Deepcut that Sean was vulnerable."
A note found after his death had said: "I just want a career in the Army." The new inquest has heard evidence from more than 170 witnesses since it began in January.
It was ordered following a campaign by Pte Benton's family, amid allegations of prolonged bullying at the base.
Shortly after the inquest began, the Army apologised to Pte Benton's family and said there were "a number of things that could and should have been better".Shortly after the inquest began, the Army apologised to Pte Benton's family and said there were "a number of things that could and should have been better".
Live: More updates on Deepcut inquest The inquest had heard Pte Benton died shortly after being told he was going to be discharged.
In January, Mr Rook said the scope of the first inquest in 1995 had been "limited" and by engaging Article Two of the Human Rights Act, he had enabled a "broader" inquiry. Former recruits told the hearing of bullying and harassment at the base - at one stage, Pte Benton confided in his sister he had been "shackled" and made to parade around the canteen.
The inquest has heard claims of bullying and harassment at the base - at one stage, Pte Benton confided in his sister he had been "shackled" and made to parade around the canteen. Deepcut was described as an "oppressive place" with claims that "beasting" was taking place, along with humiliating punishments and physical and mental abuse.
Fellow recruits described Deepcut as an "oppressive place" with claims that "beasting" was taking place, along with humiliating punishments and physical and mental abuse. Mr Rook said the ratio between instructor and trainee at Deepcut was "a constant concern", and there were "not enough staff to keep the trainees properly occupied".
Speaking on Wednesday, the coroner said the inquest was "not an inquiry into the Army at the time" of Pte Benton's death, which he said came during a "period of change for the military following the fall of the Berlin Wall".
He said the ratio between instructor and trainee at Deepcut was "a constant concern", and there were "not enough staff to keep the trainees properly occupied".
He told the court that numerous former trainees had given evidence that their time at Deepcut was "awful", and it was "clear that morale was very low".
Exploring Pte Benton's early life, the coroner repeated evidence of how as a teenager in 1991 he twice took drugs overdoses after rowing over the tidiness of his bedroom.Exploring Pte Benton's early life, the coroner repeated evidence of how as a teenager in 1991 he twice took drugs overdoses after rowing over the tidiness of his bedroom.
The court heard he was not deemed to have any deep-rooted psychiatric issues.The court heard he was not deemed to have any deep-rooted psychiatric issues.
'Boring and repetitive''Boring and repetitive'
Mr Rook went on to tell the hearing of how during his time at the barracks witnesses observed a shift in Pte Benton's demeanour, with the common theme being "he was not as bubbly as he used to be".Mr Rook went on to tell the hearing of how during his time at the barracks witnesses observed a shift in Pte Benton's demeanour, with the common theme being "he was not as bubbly as he used to be".
During a three-month warning period, he took an Anadin overdose, and it was "notable" a psychiatric assessment did not trigger a full review, he said.During a three-month warning period, he took an Anadin overdose, and it was "notable" a psychiatric assessment did not trigger a full review, he said.
Pte Benton's mother also remarked to police that he phoned home less often and had described Deepcut as "boring and repetitive".Pte Benton's mother also remarked to police that he phoned home less often and had described Deepcut as "boring and repetitive".
However, he denied being bullied when asked by her in the month before he died, Mr Rook said.However, he denied being bullied when asked by her in the month before he died, Mr Rook said.
He said there was "no doubt" Pte Benton was "on the receiving end" of punishments by senior officers, describing "a toxic culture".He said there was "no doubt" Pte Benton was "on the receiving end" of punishments by senior officers, describing "a toxic culture".
The conduct of Sgt Andrew Gavaghan - one of Pte Benton's instructors - was key in the investigation into his death, Mr Rook said.The conduct of Sgt Andrew Gavaghan - one of Pte Benton's instructors - was key in the investigation into his death, Mr Rook said.
He had an alter ego and was prone to changes in temper, and the inquest had previously heard accounts of physical and verbal abuse by him.He had an alter ego and was prone to changes in temper, and the inquest had previously heard accounts of physical and verbal abuse by him.
He said at times Sgt Gavaghan "did lose control of himself", but not all witnesses spoke ill of him.He said at times Sgt Gavaghan "did lose control of himself", but not all witnesses spoke ill of him.
"But a closer check should have been made on Sgt Gavaghan's [treatment] of the trainees."But a closer check should have been made on Sgt Gavaghan's [treatment] of the trainees.
"It's clear this lack of appropriate monitoring contributed to his abuse of authority," Mr Rook said."It's clear this lack of appropriate monitoring contributed to his abuse of authority," Mr Rook said.
However, he stressed: "This is an inquest, not a trial of Sgt Gavaghan."However, he stressed: "This is an inquest, not a trial of Sgt Gavaghan."
Sgt Gavaghan has denied allegations of abusive behaviour.Sgt Gavaghan has denied allegations of abusive behaviour.