Sniper shot himself in head by accident
Culture of ‘big boys rules’ blamed for his death
army bosses were yesterday blamed for a series of failings over a trainee sniper who accidentally shot himself in the head.
Lance Corporal Joe Spencer, 24, died during a live fire exercise on a weapons range in November 2016.
a damning report said an army culture of ‘big boys rules’ – in which elite units like snipers are afforded more trust and lower supervision than regular troops – was a factor in his death. a ‘series of errors, shortfalls and poor judgment’ had ended in his death, which was described in the report as an ‘avoidable accident’.
LCpl Spencer, from Hampshire, was sheltering from the rain in a shipping container with other soldiers before taking part in a night-time live fire exercise at an raF weapons range in Tain, northern Scotland. But the report said he had been holding his rifle in ‘an unorthodox and unsafe manner’ as he chatted – with his chin resting on the barrel and the butt placed on his boot – without realising it was loaded.
It is believed the rifle fired a fatal shot to his head after becoming snagged on equipment left on the floor.
The report concluded that LCpl Spencer, who had served in afghanistan with 3rd Battalion, The rifles during a fiveyear career, accidentally left the bolt-action L115a3 rifle loaded after an earlier drill was rushed to ensure it finished before sunset. Soldiers were given ‘inadequate’ instructions on unloading their weapons and there was ‘inadequate safety supervision, and poor command and control’.
The report also criticised the ‘ad hoc’ organisation of his sniper course and the fact that no other soldier challenged LCpl Spencer on the ‘ unsafe handling’ of his weapon.
It said this was likely because he was held in high regard and there was a culture among snipers of accepting potenof tially unsafe practices. The report, by the Defence Safety authority, said that if someone had challenged him on the way he was handling his rifle ‘the chain might have been broken and the accident prevented.’
Criticising the culture of ‘big boys rules’, the report said LCpl Spencer was among a group of students who were mistakenly held in higher regard than their limited sniper experience merited.
‘This resulted in lower levels supervision during the Sniper Operators’ Course and contributed to subsequent weapon handling errors on 1 Nov 16,’ it said. The report concluded: ‘a series of errors, shortfalls and poor judgment conspired and ended in the death of a capable and highlyregarded junior non-commissioned officer.’
The soldier’s family last night said they were disappointed by the report’s findings, adding that his death had left an ‘immeasurable chasm’.
a statement issued jointly by LCpl Spencer’s father Graham, 62, and 56-year-old mother Dee and his two brothers said they still had ‘numerous unanswered questions’ and said the report contained ‘speculations and assumptions and factual inaccuracies and inconsistencies.’
His partner Cherycce Connelly, 24, said errors in the lead up to the tragedy were ‘needless, neglectful and selfish’.
She added: ‘He was in training where risk to life should have been minimal. Joe should have come home.’
an army spokesman said the service would carefully consider the report’ s recommendations.
‘Unorthodox and unsafe’