Deepcut army instructor linked to death of 5 recruits to face music

A former Army instructor at a barracks where five young recruits died in suspicious circumstances more than 20 years ago is facing a criminal charge, the Mail can reveal.

For the first time, a sergeant stationed at the notorious Deepcut base has been investigated by police and is awaiting a decision on whether the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) will charge him.

In what is widely regarded as the Army’s most shocking abuse scandal, four young soldiers shot themselves, and a fifth died of a drug overdose at the Surrey barracks in the 1990s and 2000s. Subsequent inquiries revealed an appalling culture of bullying, rapes of male and female recruits, physical and sexual assaults and racism – yet no staff have ever been held to account.

However, following a fresh investigation by Surrey Police, a former member of the Royal Logistics Corps is now facing a charge of misconduct in a public office. The retired soldier, who is in his 70s, is accused of physically and verbally abusing one of the trainees who lost their lives.

It can also be revealed today that detectives recommended the charge against him one and a half years ago.

Last night, the CPS said it could not provide a timetable for a charging decision. If a charge is brought, the accused would be publicly named and face either a crown court trial or a military court martial.

In June 1995, Private Sean Benton, 20, was found dead at Deepcut from five bullet wounds in his chest. Two inquests into his death heard that he had been bullied by instructors – both returned verdicts of suicide.

In November 1995, Private Cheryl James, 18, was found dead. Her cause of death was a bullet wound to her head.

A first inquest returned an open verdict, which her family challenged in the High Court. The verdict was quashed, and a second hearing determined her death was self-inflicted.

The third death was of Private Anthony Bartlett, 26, from a suspected drug overdose in July 2001.

In September 2001, Private Geoff Gray, 17, died from gunshot wounds to his head. An inquest returned an open verdict, but 18 years after his death, a second inquest found it was a suicide. In March 2002, Private James Collinson, 17, was also found dead from a gunshot wound. An inquest returned an open verdict, which the family challenged.

The second inquest into the recruits’ deaths eventually led to Surrey Police launching a fresh criminal investigation in 2018.

Last night, the Ministry of Defence declined to comment, and a CPS spokesman said, ‘We are carefully considering this complex material.’