Deepcut officer tells of doubts after Cheryl James tragedy

Private James, 18, was discovered with a fatal bullet wound on November 27, 1995 – one of four recruits to die at Deepcut barracks in Surrey over a seven-year period.

Major Richard Rimmington, a former instructor at the base, told Surrey Coroner's Court in Woking he was probably the last person to see her alive. He said he drove through the gate at the training camp where Private James was posted on guard duty moments before she died.

"At the gate I saw one person, it was a female, a female in uniform doing guard duties," he said.

"I showed her my ID card and probably said 'Good morning, how are you?'." When asked if there was "anything notable" about Private James he replied: "Not at all, not at all."

He said when his colleague arrived about five minutes later he reported the gate was unmanned. "I remember that day because of the events, it's one of those things that stays in your mind," he added.

He said he has "always wondered" if he was the last person to see Private James alive but was not interviewed as part of the preliminary investigation into her death.

"I was surprised no one came to talk to me," he added. "After the initial inquest had concluded I thought they must not have needed me."

Private James lived in Llangollen. Her parents Des and Doreen James now live in Llanymynech, near Oswestry.

Paul Vernam, former Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) at Deepcut, said he also saw Pte James at the gate and corrected her for not calling him "sir". He told the inquest there was "nothing unusual" about her response.

Richard Simonds, a former major at Deepcut, said he found Pte James "lying in the woods" near the gate, with two officers standing nearby, when he arrived for work.

"I could see someone lying in camouflage clothing in the woods," he added. "I said 'is she dead?' . . . they said they didn't know."

He continued: "It was a female lying in foetal position with knees drawn up, lying on her right-hand side and there was a weapon lying very close to her.

"There was some blood around her head and a bullet wound to her forehead."

He told the inquest he checked for a pulse but there was "nothing at all".

"Once I found there was no pulse and she was beyond help it didn't seem dignified to do violent CPR or anything like that so we backed off," he said.

He added: "She was fully clothed and there was no sign of anyone trying to move her or cover her body, she was just lying there."

The inquest continues.