Deepcut: Detective 'felt pressured to conclude deaths were suicides'

A former senior detective has claimed he felt pressured into concluding that young army recruits killed themselves at Deepcut barracks.

Colin Sutton was ordered to re-investigate the deaths of Privates Geoff Gray and James Collinson at the barracks.

They were two of four recruits to die from bullet wounds at the base in between 1995 and 2002 amid claims of bullying and abuse.

Mr Sutton told ITV News that he faced pressure from senior officers within Surrey Police and the army to record their deaths as suicide.

He claimed he was told: "We know these are suicides - go and prove it."

Mr Sutton - who led the investigation into Milly Dowler's murderer Levi Bellfield and the Night Stalker Delroy Grant during a 30-year career - said the Deepcut case was one "that troubles me more than anything".

"Had these deaths taken place outside of an army barracks, I would have no doubt that any police officer would think this is highly suspicious.

"Of all the cases I did, this is the one that troubles me more than anything - there's a nagging doubt at the back of my mind the whole time."

"These deaths were referred to as suicides by virtually everybody - there was an expectation that my investigation would prove that."

He said he felt pressure to reach that conclusion "as quickly as I can".

Mr Sutton launched an investigation into the deaths of Gray and Collinson in 2002, following pressure from the soldiers' families who rejected the suicide verdicts.

He said he was given no resources and was told by a senior officer to have a "quick look" to satisfy relatives who were "making a bit of noise".

Mr Sutton said he had to "play catch up" to retrieve evidence that should have been collected at the time.

He raised concerns to senior officers but left the force before the investigation was completed.

In a later review, Devon and Cornwall Police found Surrey Police failed to follow vital leads.

Mr Sutton said he was unsure he could have done much more but admitted regretting "not speaking out earlier".

The former officer said he felt the "cosy relationship" between senior members of Surrey Police and army officers hindered what was meant to be an open and thorough investigation.

There was an expectation, he said, that Surrey Police "should be batting for the army rather than anyone else".

ITV News has approached Surrey Police and the Ministry of Defence for comment.