Five suicide attempts revealed at Deepcut

An investigation into the deaths of four soldiers at the Deepcut barracks in Surrey has revealed five previously unreported suicide attempts.

The five soldiers tried to kill themselves between June and November 1995, the same year that Cheryl James, 18, from north Wales, and Sean Benton, 20, from East Sussex died at the barracks. Their deaths, and those of Geoff Gray, from London, and James Collinson, from Scotland, were initially said to be suicides but they are now being reinvestigated after their families accused the Army of a cover-up.

Records of the five suicide attempts were obtained by BBC1's Panorama programme, which also heard allegations from former soldiers at the camp that physical attacks, bullying and sexual harassment were rife. One particular sergeant described as "psychotic" was said to be at the heart of the bullying.

Private Benton was attacked by a gang wearing gas masks as he slept one night, according to last night's edition of Panorama. On another occasion, he was thrown through a window. He had allegedly upset the sergeant in question by answering back.

Terri Lewis, once a lance corporal at the camp, said: "Certain sergeants, certain corporals were abusing the power." She added: "I 100 per cent believe that Sean was totally driven to commit suicide."

One former recruit, Trevor Hunter, said: "You could see physical marks on the soldiers that could tell me that something was going on. Soldiers were that scared that they'd never tell you what happened."

Private Lisa Roberts made accusations of sexual harassment. She told the programme: "We had, on a daily basis, sexual advances from male staff within the Deepcut Barracks. I felt very intimidated. I felt very scared."

Ms Lewis said she believed sexual harassment by a sergeant may account for the death of Private James. "It visibly and clearly shook the girl up, and obviously not long after she took her life," Ms Lewis said.

The revelations led Lord Ashley of Stoke, who received complaints about the base when he was an MP 15 years ago, to add to calls for an independent investigation.

A spokesman for the MoD said: "If anyone has allegations against individuals they should be made known to the police."

Deepcut was included last month in a list of Army bases that might be closed as part of a Ministry of Defence review.