Cheryl James inquest: Ex-Deepcut sergeant claims he didn't know her
A former sergeant has denied ordering Private Cheryl James, who was found shot dead at Deepcut Army barracks, to meet a fellow soldier for sex.
Former troop sergeant Andrew Gavaghan told the inquest into Private James, 18, of Llangollen, that he "never knew Cheryl at all".
He also denied bullying her and shouting at her so much that he reduced her to tears.
He told Woking Coroner's Court yesterday that the first he really knew of Private James was when she was found dead in November 1995, eventually making her one of four recruits to be found shot dead at the Surrey barracks between 1995 and 2002.
The inquest heard of a culture of alcohol and sex at the barracks.
Mr Gavaghan said the recruits were told that sex was "discouraged" but it was "difficult to police" because staff were not available round-the-clock to supervise.
Private Mark Beards has previously told the inquest that Private James, whose parents Des and Doreen live in Llanymynech, near Oswestry, had been ordered by Mr Gavaghan, then a sergeant, to meet another soldier Private Ian Atkinson in a room.
Mr Beards had told the court that while Private James never mentioned the word, he assumed it was for sex.
Alison Foster QC, for the James family, told Mr Gavaghan that it was claimed he told the soldier of "unoccupied part (of Deepcut) for sexual purposes". Mr Gavaghan replied: "No, I never said that."
Asked about the claim that he ordered Private James to go into a private room with a soldier, Mr Gavaghan said: "That never happened because I never knew Cheryl until the morning that she died."
He said the only time he recalled speaking to Private James was on the morning of her death when she asked him for his ID as he walked into the barracks.
Mr Gavaghan pointed out that Private James did not know whether to call him "sir" or "sergeant" and told the court they did not know each other.
He said he would have recalled making any recruit, including Private James, cry.
Meanwhile, Peter Mant, for the family of Private James, made the suggestion that a former Army sergeant picked on the recruit.
He asked former troop sergeant Adrian Stevens: "You fancied Cheryl. You gave her all the good jobs and, when she did not respond, you started picking on her – that is the truth, isn't it?"
Mr Stevens, who had described Private James as "very bubbly" and as a "pretty girl", replied: "No."
He also said he was shocked and surprised by her death.
The hearing continues.
