Seven Sandhurst officers ‘WON’T face charges’ over cadet Olivia Perks’ suicide ‘after affair with instructors’
SEVEN of Sandhurst's most senior officers who were investigated following the suicide of a female cadet will not face disciplinary charges, it's reported.
Olivia Perks, 21, of Kingswinford, West Midlands, allegedly had an affair with one of the instructors, while a second is accused of inviting her to his room after a night of drinking.
Any such contact would be in breach of the military academy's rules.
Olivia was known to be a suicide risk before she hanged herself in her bedroom at the military academy in February 2019.
A colonel, two lieutenant colonels and four other officers were tasked with enduring she had support while she was vulnerable, reports.
An Army investigation has indicated the welfare measures put in place were inadequate.
However, after six months of deliberations, Olivia's family have reportedly been told the officers involved will not face a military court.
The seven may instead be called as witnesses at an inquest into her death. Two male instructors remain 'interested parties'.
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One source told the paper the officers' behaviour when it came to Olivia "amounted to a box-ticking exercise".
"While these officers put her on the [suicide risk] register, they were not sufficiently engaged with Miss Perks to realise how bad she was feeling," they said.
"Individually their failings fell short of the Service Prosecuting Authority's (SPA) threshold for disciplinary charges but collectively there was a major failure in welfare and provision of support.
"They all assumed she was somebody else’s responsibility."
It's claimed that, as well as her relationship with one instructor, Olivia was invited back to another sergeant's room. Both said nothing happened.
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The colour sergeant was demoted and removed from Sandhurst.
Sandhurst, which was attended by Prince William and Prince Harry, forbids personal relationships with officer cadets.
Olivia's inquest is expected to be held in May.
You're Not Alone
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn't discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society - from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It's the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it's rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You're Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let's all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others... You're Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, , 0800 585 858
- Heads Together,
- Mind, , 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus,, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, , 116 123
- Movember,
- Anxiety UK , 03444 775 774 Monday-Friday 9.30am-10pm, Saturday/Sunday 10am-8pm
