Fifth soldier died at army’s Deepcut barracks where four recruits died between 1995 and 2002

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The grieving father of a soldier who died at Deepcut Army barracks demanded a public inquiry last night after details of a fifth suspicious death at the base emerged.

It had been thought that four young soldiers died there mysteriously between 1995 and 2002.

The cases triggered police investigations and an independent review by a High Court Judge.

But it has now been revealed that a fifth soldier, Private Anthony Bartlett died of a suspected drug overdose at the Surrey barracks in July 2001. 

Remarkably, the 26-year-old’s death was not included in any of the inquiries into the suspicious deaths and probes into claims that Army instructors abused and bullied recruits.

Just two months after the tragedy, Private Geoff Gray, 17, died of gunshot wounds while on guard duty. 

To this day his family dispute the coroner’s conclusion that their son took his own life. 

Last night, Private Gray’s father, also called Geoff Gray, said: ‘There must now be a public inquiry… I am more convinced than ever that there was foul play in my son’s death. 

‘Why are we just learning now that Private Bartlett died in suspicious circumstances so close to when Geoff died?’ 

Privates Sean Benton, Cheryl James, Geoff Gray and James Collinson were found dead at the barracks in Surrey amid allegations of a culture of bullying and abuse. 

However, it has now emerged that another private, Anthony Bartlett, was found dead after a suspected overdose in July 2001.

The detective who investigated later deaths at the Barracks hit out at the news and said it was ‘staggering’ he had not been told about it.  

Retired Detective Chief Inspector Colin Sutton said the death of Private Bartlett had been hidden from him.

The MoD rejected any claims of a cover-up and said the coroner found the fifth death had been an accident.   

Privates Benton, James, Gray and Collinson all died of gunshot wounds in the barracks. 

The Army said the deaths were suicides though their families disagreed.   

DCI Colin Sutton investigated the deaths of Pte Grey and Pte Collinson 

Pte Bartlett died just two months before but Mr Sutton says he was not informed of the death. 

He died after an overdose of Co-Proxamol, which is a strong painkiller.

Pte Bartlett had been prescribed the painkiller by Army doctors for acute Achilles tendonitis.  

Ex-DCI Sutton said:  ‘Nobody told me about it,’ he said. ‘If you’re the senior investigating officer looking at the deaths of two soldiers at Deepcut and there’s another death of a soldier that you’re not told about, you know, it’s just staggering to me.

‘I just don’t understand how that information can be kept from an investigation team that’s looking at this at that barracks.’ 

Sean Benton was the first private found dead at the barracks, after he was found in July 1995 with five gunshot wounds.  

Private Bartlett, from Dumfries and Galloway, was found to have overdosed on a painkiller he had been prescribed for an ankle injury. An inquest in 2001 ended in a verdict of accidental death from acute poisoning from the drug.

Cheryl James was found dead in November that year. Pte James, 18, was undergoing initial training when she was found dead with a bullet wound between her right eye and the bridge of her nose in November 1995. 

Private Benton and Private James’s deaths were declared suicides after second inquests. An open verdict was reached at Private Collinson’s only inquest. 

Private Geoff Gray aged 17, was found with two gunshot wounds in his forehead in September 2001.  

James Collinson was 17 when he was found dead with a single gunshot wound to the head at the barracks. 

The Ministry of Defence denies that it sought to hide a fifth death at Deepcut.

It also insists the Armed Forces do not tolerate abuse, bullying or discrimination.