DEEPCUT PASSION

A BRITISH Army corporal at the scandal-hit Deepcut recruitment centre has been suspended after allegations that he had sex with a young girl soldier next to the base's war memorial.

Corporal David Scott was relieved of his duties at the base where four recruits have been found shot dead in mysterious circumstances.

The allegations were made after he was seen repeatedly visiting the quarters of a recruit in her late teens. In a separate incident, the couple were accused of having an intimate encounter next to the base's war memorial late at night last week.

Under Army rules, a sexual relationship between an NCO and a recruit is forbidden and, if guilty, they could face harsh disciplinary action.

A military source said senior officers were furious about the latest incident. "Deepcut is already facing an inquiry over the far more serious matter of the deaths of four recruits as well as another probe by the House of Commons Defence Committee.

"The girl who died was alleged to have had a sexual relationship with an NCO so this incident is not welcome."

Another senior source at the base said: "Word spread that the corporal had begun a relationship with the girl after he was spotted going to her accommodation. Then last week a guard said he saw the two getting very friendly next to the war memorial. Both have been hauled in to see the commanding officer."

The corporal and the trainee - both single - deny they have had sex but will appear before their commanding officer after an internal investigation. The base chief will make a ruling on whether the allegations are true or not.

An Army spokesman said: "It is alleged that an inappropriate relationship between a corporal and a female recruit has taken place at Deepcut. This is being fully investigated."

The first of the base's four mysterious deaths came in 1995 when Pte Sean Benton, 20, died from five gunshot wounds to the chest. A coroner found his death to be suicide .

Five months later, Pte Cheryl James died from a bullet through her forehead. The Army claimed she committed suicide but the coroner recorded an open verdict.

In September 2001, Pte Geoff Gray, 17, died from two gunshot wounds to the head. The MoD said he had committed suicide.

Four days after an open verdict was recorded at Pte Gray's inquest in March, Pte James Collinson, 17, was found dead from a gunshot wound to the head. His inquest is still to be held.

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