Father describes lack of investigation into bullying at Deepcut as 'terrible injustice'

The father of a teenage soldier found dead at the controversial Deepcut Barracks, due to give evidence at a fresh inquest into her death, has described the apparent lack of an investigation into the bullying of recruits as a "terrible injustice".

Private Cheryl James, 18, was discovered with a fatal gunshot wound at Deepcut Barracks in Surrey in 1995 - one of four teenage recruits to die there over a seven-year period.

Des James, from Mid Wales, is to give evidence on Monday after new evidence emerged last month that suggested she my have been sexually exploited by senior ranks shortly before her death.

He said that there was a culture of bullying and abuse at the army barracks of young recruits at an "extraordinary scale" that had "never been addressed".

"It really bothered me that the MOD's first response was not to have any inquiry," he said.

The inquest in Woking before Brian Barker QC is expected to last seven weeks and hear evidence from more than 100 people.

In 2014, the High Court quashed the original 1995 inquest, which recorded an open verdict.

Ptes Sean Benton, James Collinson and Geoff Gray also died from gunshot wounds at the barracks between 1995 and 2002.

Mr James said that it was clear that young recruits were intimidated by "rogues" within the chain of command in the military meaning few were willing to come forward to complain.

He added that the original investigation carried out by the military police "didn't carry out basic evidence".

Pte James' body was exhumed in August and a post-mortem examination was carried out by two experts.

The family have requested the scope of the new inquest be widened to take account of new testimony which they believe sheds new light on her state of mind.

Alison Foster QC, representing the family, told a pre-inquest hearing last month that they had material suggesting Pte James "may have been sexually coerced or raped the night before, or before the time of her death".

There was also a "direct allegation" that the teenage soldier might have been ordered to sleep with a person "by someone superior in rank to her", the barrister said.

The hearing will consider whether a third party was involved in her death and what happened on the evening before she died.

It will also address whether there were "shortcomings" with barracks policies on sexual behaviour, supervision of young females, drugs, alcohol and accommodation.