Private Sean Benton was found with bullet wounds to the chest

Linda Benton, 52, hopes Scott Knowles' claims in The Sun about her son's death will lead others to speak to police.

Mr Knowles, 38, told the newspaper young recruits were tormented, beaten, sexually abused and driven to suicide by instructors at the Surrey barracks.

Mrs Benton's son Sean, 20, was found dead from gunshot wounds in 1995.

Former soldier Mr Knowles said he was asked to look after the young recruit and claimed Private Benton had killed himself because he felt he had "no other option" after being "put through hell".

On Monday details were leaked of a police probe at the base which uncovered over 100 fresh claims of rape, racism and beatings.

Everyone knew about Private Benton's very fragile mental state weeks before his death. He had been put through hell Scott Knowles

The following day Armed Forces Minister Former Adam Ingram announced an independent review into the allegations of abuse.

But the families of the four recruits do not accept the soldiers' deaths were suicides and have been calling for a full inquiry.

Mrs Benton, from Hastings, East Sussex, said she was cautious about some of Mr Knowles' claims and wanted to speak to him to compare notes and ensure that he was genuine.

But she added: "It's a breakthrough. Then we can get on and remember Sean for happier times rather than all of this."

She said she hoped police would follow up the claims, and that it may provide "a step towards a public inquiry".

'Fragile mental state'

Now a builder living in the Home Counties, Mr Knowles told the newspaper he was on duty the night Private Benton shot himself.

"Everyone knew about Private Benton's very fragile mental state weeks before his death. He had been put through hell," he said.

Mr Knowles claimed the young recruit would often eat by himself and was on one occasion attacked by the "Black Mask gang", who wore respirators during their attacks.

"He was mentally and physically beaten down to the point that he couldn't go any lower, " he said.

"He never once mentioned suicide to me. But he said he was desperate to transfer and get out of Deepcut," Mr Knowles claimed.

The leaked memorandum from Surrey Police included 173 allegations of abuse relating to the base, including nine rape accusations.

Surrey Police has confirmed that officers had been trying to trace Mr Knowles "for some time" and had now made arrangements to interview him.

Coroner's verdict

A coroner had recorded a verdict of suicide on Private Benton's death.

Mrs Benton said it was "very distressing" to read the ex-soldier's claims but that she believed her son had been bullied.

She said he had written a letter in which he said " they all knew he was cracking up".

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said it took "substantive allegations" very seriously and would co-operate fully with Surrey Police.