Deepcut verdict: 'Abuse and misuse of power in highly sexualised environment'

Trainees at the camp in Surrey were left "running around" taking illegal drugs and drinking under age without proper supervision, an inquest into the death of the 18-year-old soldier heard.

Sexual activity was so rife that a room was allegedly put aside for young soldiers to have sex in and a litter sweep of the grounds apparently found 800 condoms in a year.

Private James, an 18-year-old Army recruit, whose parents Des and Doreen James live in Llanymynech, near Oswestry, was found with a fatal head wound on November 27, 1995.

The inquest heard that male instructors at Deepcut barracks saw women as a "sexual challenge" and training officers repeatedly propositioned female recruits.

A report in 2002 suggested the training atmosphere led to soldiers becoming "bored, demotivated, and increasingly prone to indiscipline", creating a "psychological disadvantage" to weaker individuals.

Alcohol was rife at the barracks and was routinely brought back to the camp from outside and served to under 18s at the bar on site.

One recruit told the inquest they were "running about" and recalled taking illegal drugs with fellow trainees at a nightclub.

Dr Alexandra McClenahan, a former GP at Deepcut, said an increasing number of female recruits came to her surgery for the morning-after pill or an abortion.

She told the inquest there were "all sorts" of welfare issues and difficulties among the recruits, including being "depressed or demoralised", sexually transmitted diseases and injuries after drunken brawls.

Shortly before her death Pte James was locked in a room by a sergeant who chased her and "tried to have his way with her", the inquest heard.

Her room-mate at the time of her death said they were "petrified" of Sgt Gavaghan and claimed he spied on female recruits while they were on guard duty.

Sgt Gavaghan rejected the claims against him and also denied bullying Pte James and screaming at her until she was reduced to tears.

Former troop sergeant Adrian Stevens was also accused of picking on Pte James because she did not return his romantic interest, which he denied.

There was often just one corporal in charge of 200 trainees and at one stage just one NCO in charge of 300-400 recruits, the inquest heard.

Females accounted for 25% of trainees but there were only two women officers they could discuss issues with.

Brigadier John Donnelly, head of Army Personal Services, accepted there was a ''highly sexualised atmosphere'' at the barracks and an ''abuse and misuse'' of power, conceding it could be a ''morally chaotic environment'' for a teenage woman.

He also admitted that the pressure could be ''intolerable'' and there were not ''the structures in place to provide a proper duty of care".

Brig Donnelly said a number of changes have been made throughout the Army as a direct result of the death of Pte James and three other recruits who died at the barracks between 1995 and 2002.

The complicated love life of Private James was one of the major themes of the inquest.

The young recruit wrote a letter, which was never sent, about 11 men she had sex with during her army training, including a married corporal and another recruit while they "were meant to be guarding the camp".

She had suspected she was pregnant "a couple of times", according to her room-mate at the time.

In November 1995 Pte James was part of a love triangle, and both men said they were left shocked and devastated by her sudden death.

Days earlier she had been caught naked in bed with a private at Deepcut by her regular boyfriend, who was stationed elsewhere.

The 18-year-old had told Private Paul Wilkinson, then aged 16, she was splitting up with Sapper Simeon Carr-Minns, whom she had been seeing for around two months, the inquest heard.

But the night before her death she slept with him at a party at which Pte Wilkinson was also present.

Mr Carr-Minns, a young Royal Engineer, described her as a woman with a "sexual charisma'' who "couldn't help herself".

In a statement from 2002 he said: "I think if she wanted to have sex with somebody she just would. She wouldn't have been able to stay faithful.''

When they first met Pte James was "chirpy, vivacious, happy", Mr Carr-Minns said, and during the course of their relationship they discussed him possibly meeting her parents and marriage plans.

But his girlfriend tried to break up with him the weekend before her death, and he described a change in mood, saying she perhaps was not as happy as she appeared and may have had "deeper issues".

The night before her death Mr Carr-Minns said Pte James appeared troubled and different from her usual ''bubbly'' self.

On the morning she died, while she was on guard duty at Deepcut, Mr Wilkinson, who said he had been left shocked and angry when Mr Carr-Minns walked in on them, paid her a visit during which they spoke for up to an hour.

Part of the conversation involved the teen offering her an ultimatum - to pick one of the two lovers.

Pte James said she did not want to be with Mr Carr-Minns, Mr Wilkinson told the inquest, adding that they cuddled as they tried to sort things out.

Around 20 minutes after he left the cabin - being told to leave by a major who was cycling past - Mr Wilkinson said he was shocked to hear Pte James had been found dead, telling the person who informed him they must be "talking daft".

Mr Wilkinson had been "pushed to breaking point" following Pte James' death when he thought some people were laughing about what had happened, and put someone's head through an arcade machine as a result.

He said his only bitter regret about the morning of Pte James's death was that he left her when he did.

Mr Carr-Minns said the news of her death had left him "absolutely devastated".