A NORTH-EAST soldier who was found shot at Deepcut barracks did not commit suicide, a leading forensics expert said last night.

Independent consultant Frank Swann said that, according to his initial findings, the injuries to Private Geoff Gray, 17, formerly of Seaham, County Durham, were not self-inflicted.

Mr Swann was given permission by Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram to enter the Surrey barracks where police are also probing the gunshot deaths of Pte Sean Benton, 20, Pte Cheryl James, 18, and Pte James Collinson, 17.

Mr Swann said injuries to Pte Benton were also not self-inflicted, while he was 70 per cent sure the same applied to Pte Collinson. But more tests were needed in his case, as well as in that of Pte James.

In a note on the Gray family's website, Mr Swann claimed yesterday that, despite his ministerial authority he is encountering "passive obstruction" from Surrey Police.

Speaking last night, Pte Gray's father, also called Geoff, said that Surrey Police had to take Mr Swann's findings seriously. He said: "The Defence Minister said Frank Swann could go into Deepcut and investigate.

"When it has come from a Government minister there must be no obstruction. They must take his findings seriously. He has more than 40 years experience in his field and they must take note.

"If police are being obstructive, I find that very annoying. If you are given the right to do an investigation, you expect to be helped."

Surrey Police are awaiting the results of tests on a piece of skull, found close to the scene where Pte Gray's body was discovered, following a fingertip search at Deepcut.

Mr Gray said: "I really hope that it is Geoff's, otherwise what will that mean? They might have something else on their hands if it's not."

The families, who are employing Mr Swann, have refused to accept the theory that all four soldiers committed suicide using their own rifles and have accused the Army of a cover-up.

Mr Swann said last night that he had been to the base once for a reconnaissance and to meet Army officers and planned to return.

He said: "That's not a problem, but the police have given me no updates to bring me up to speed and have not given me vital documentation.

"I've got sets of photographs of two of the deceased, but I need the other two. I've asked, they say, 'yes. we'll look into it', but it doesn't happen."

Mr Swann added that he had reached his conclusions from looking at the photographs and conducting tests on a firing range.

Surrey Police hit back insisting Mr Swann had been given every assistance possible.

A spokesman said: "We have extended every possible assistance to Frank Swann. We have allowed him to meet with our ballistics expert, we have facilitated him to visit the scene, and are quite happy to facilitate as many visits as he needs.

"We have requested a report on his findings and details of his methodology, and he has consistently failed to provide this, yet he is publicly stating what his findings are."

Mr Gray, and his wife Diane, are spearheading a campaign for a public inquiry into all non-natural deaths at Army bases.