SANDHURST military academy had an ‘irresponsible’ lack of welfare support before an officer cadet was found hanged in her room there, an inquest has heard.

Olivia Perks, 21, was discovered dead at the elite military training school in Berkshire on February 6 2019.

Her inquest at Reading Town Hall was on Thursday (May 4) told the academy had one welfare officer for 2,500 people.

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Despite being rated outstanding three times by Ofsted before the tragedy, the inspectorate had told it to improve the welfare services it offered.

Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Whitelegge, who was commander of the academy’s Old College, told the hearing: “Sandhurst had its own ways. I am not saying that necessarily as an excuse.

“It was very uncomfortable. There was an ambiguity about which policies to follow at the time.”

When asked by counsel to the coroner Bridget Dolan KC about Ofsted highlighting a need for better welfare services for officer cadets, he replied: “Yes, I am more than aware of that.”

He went on: “Sandhurst was given three outstanding ratings. I don’t think the welfare support for officer cadets or staff was outstanding. It certainly wasn’t to the staff.

“Having one welfare officer for two and a half thousand people is irresponsible. The college had no unit welfare officer.

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“I had 500 cadets and staff were changing several times a year with no unit welfare officer.”

When asked about a lack of welfare training among the chain of command, who often ended up dealing with it, he said it is “easy to put it on the chain of command”.

He added: “If one doesn’t resource welfare, then it doesn’t happen.”

The inquest has also heard Ms Perks was interviewed and had to sign a letter saying she risked losing her place at Sandhurst if she displayed similar behaviour to that during a suicide attempt at a Royal Engineers visit in July 2018.

She was deemed to be at a ‘low risk of reoccurrence’ and was back in training two days later.

The hearing was told the attempts were deemed ‘half-hearted and rudimentary’.

On Thursday, the inquest heard the reason for the interview was recorded as ‘inappropriate behaviour during the regimental visit, the catalyst being excessive alcohol’.

Ms Dolan KC said Ms Perks appeared to be being told to sign a letter that makes clear ‘deliberate self-harming is inappropriate behaviour’.

It said: “Reoccurrence of inappropriate behaviour could lead to questions about suitability for employment.”

Lieutenant Colonel Whitelegge said he accepted 'that’s one way you could read it', adding the language used was 'really crass'.

He added: “It doesn’t accurately reflect the discussions and the tone.”

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Ms Perks was told to resolve underlying issues that could have caused her to have “violent outbursts” that encouraged self-harm, according to Ms Dolan KC.

The lawyer added that the letter makes clear ‘deliberate self-harming is inappropriate behaviour’ and said Ms Perks was being told to “pack in” such behaviour.

Lieutenant Colonel Whitelegge also defended the decision to return Ms Perks to training, saying putting her back in the platoon but away from her friends would have been the ‘worst of all worlds’.

Ms Perks spent the night in Colour Sergeant Griffith’s room after the Falklands Ball on February 1 2019, which led to ‘rumours’ spreading about what they had been doing.

They both denied any sexual activity had taken place.

After that night, she was raised from amber to red on a risk register which she had been placed on but was made duty cadet on the following Monday.

Richard Pask, who was then Company Sergeant Major but has now left the army, said he believed that had happened to ‘keep an eye on her’ and get Ms Perks ‘more exposure’ but he could not be completely sure that was the reason for it.

Lieutenant Colonel Jason Buchanan, who was Officer Commanding of the Falklands Company, told the hearing no-one had been assigned to accompany Ms Perks to a parade she was supposed to be at on the day she died.

She had also left a letter expressing a desire to leave Sandhurst and become a regular soldier which was unopened.

Ms Dolan KC asked him: “If it had been opened, would someone have gone to see her straight away?”

He replied: “In one way it would demonstrate she is looking to a future (in the army).

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Ms Dolan replied: “In another way it suggests she has given up on being an officer.”

He replied: “I agree.”

Letters to her mother, friends and the army were found in her room after she died. In one to the army, she said she could not deal with ‘false rumours’ that were circulating.

The inquest continues.