Sunderland soldier took own life amid fears over demotion

Royal Artillery Bombardier Nadine Askew, 31, from Sunderland, was found dead in her room at Larkhill Garrison in Wiltshire on July 22, 2021, after an altercation with a junior soldier the night before.

An inquest at Wiltshire and Swindon Coroner’s Court heard the Royal Artillery soldier had been involved in a fight with a gunner during a party at the accommodation block, and feared it could put her forthcoming promotion to sergeant at risk.

(Image: PA)

Recording a conclusion of suicide, assistant coroner Ian Singleton said: “I am satisfied that more likely than not she intended to take her own life.

“I find this was against the background of being involved in an altercation earlier that evening that Nadine would have known would, in all probability, have an adverse effect on the promotion that she was so keen to achieve.

“I find that her actions were a response to the realisation of that fact.”

Bmdr Askew had served tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan with the Royal Artillery.

Lucy Clark, a fellow bombardier, told the inquest: “She knew that getting into a fight and essentially hitting a gunner was going to have repercussions on her career.

“A lot of the time the repercussion for fighting is a demotion, and she wasn’t wearing sergeant yet, so the fear was a demotion in general, but she would have potentially been busted back down to lance bombardier.”

The inquest heard a group of soldiers had been socialising at a nearby pub before returning to the garrison and continuing the evening at a party.

The fight started after the gunner approached Bmdr Askew to apologise for something she had done earlier in the day.

Witnesses said Bmdr Askew punched and headbutted the gunner before being restrained by another soldier.

The court heard that she had a history of self-harm and had previously been placed on the Vulnerability Risk Management (VRM) register and given mental health support.

Just ten days before her death, senior officers had removed her from the register and approved her for deployment.

Her parents told the inquest that they were unaware of her previous self-harm or mental health struggles.

Mr Singleton said: “It would be speculation to say what difference it would have made if Nadine had been on the VRM or if measures had been put in place.

“No-one had concerns how Nadine presented after the incident on the evening of July 21 to 22, 2021.”

He found no evidence her earlier mental health issues contributed to her death, citing improvements noted by a psychiatrist and a lack of recent concerning behaviour.

The care she received was described by medical experts as of a “good standard,” and the coroner said her death did not reflect a failure in previous care.

(Image: PA)

Following the inquest, Bmdr Askew’s mother Amanda paid tribute to her daughter.

Ms Askew said: “It’s impossible to put into words how devastating it is to hear from multiple second-hand sources that your child was battling mental health struggles that you were unaware of.

“It’s been devastating to sit through all that evidence and be confronted with that fact.

“We endured this process as we hoped that by shining a light on the circumstances leading up to her death, we might spare other Army families from enduring the same irreparable pain.

“Nadine was a kind, caring woman with an infectious smile.

“After she died, we received over 300 cards from people all over the world and 27 condolence bouquets.

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“We also learnt that some of her friends have named their children after her.

“It is clear she touched so many people’s lives, which brings us some comfort.”

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