THE family of a soldier who committed suicide at his Army barracks have blamed his time in Afghanistan for causing him to take his own life, with his father calling his tour of duty “the bullet in the wound”.

Lieutenant Corporal Jason Leslie Birch, 26, of 1st Mercian Regiment, at Marne Barracks, in Catterick, North Yorkshire, was found hanged inside a walk-in cupboard in his Army quarters after failing to turn up for a disciplinary meeting on June 13.

An inquest into his death, held at Richmond Town Hall, North Yorkshire, heard that Lt Cpl Birch had a chequered past as a soldier, but was thought to be getting his life back on track after a six month sentence at an Army corrective centre, following a court martial in November last year when he was found guilty of assaulting recruits.

The coroner, Rob Turnbull, heard that Lt Cpl Birch, from Derby, was due to meet his regimental sergeant major for a minor disciplinary matter, arising from a drunken prank, at 8.30am on the day of his death.

However, the sergeant major was late and the meeting was rescheduled for 11.30am.

Lt Cpl Birch went back to his room, but failed to reappear for the meeting and was found hanged when an officer went to look for him.

Captain Rupert Pye-Watson, the adjutant in charge of discipline at 1st Mercian, spoke with Lt Cpl Birch at 8.30am that morning and told the inquest that he was relaxed and smiling, with nothing to give any cause for concern.

Capt Pye-Watson was also asked about Lt Cpl Birch’s track record as a soldier and he spoke highly of his abilities.

He said: “Lt Cpl Birch joined us after his time in the corrective centre and he highly impressed everyone with his dedication and professionalism.

He was doing well and had every reason to look forward and be positive.”

Lt Cpl Birch’s father, Len, told the coroner: “There will always be doubt for us about what actually happened. If this had happened a few months earlier then we would have understood it a bit more, but we thought he had got himself together after his time in Afghanistan.

“Afghanistan was the bullet in this wound.”

A verdict of suicide was recorded.