Tragic Army Training Accident Claims Life of Young Sniper
A British Army soldier was fatally shot in the head when his sniper rifle accidentally discharged after a comrade bumped into him during a training exercise, a coroner's inquest has heard. Lance Corporal Joe Spencer, aged 24, died instantly on November 1, 2016, during a sniper training course in the Scottish Highlands.
Details of the Fatal Incident
The tragic event occurred at a gun range in Tain, Scotland, where LCpl Spencer was participating in a two-month sniper training program. According to evidence presented at Winchester Coroner's Court, Private Christopher Leveridge bumped into LCpl Spencer in the waiting area, which was a converted shipping container. This contact caused the rifle to fire a single round that entered through Spencer's chin and exited through the top of his head.
Range supervisor Colour Sergeant Gordon Smart described the immediate aftermath, stating he heard commotion and someone shouting "man down." Upon reaching the container, he found Spencer's body on the floor with a weapon underneath him. CSgt Smart noted that Private Leveridge emerged from the container visibly shaken, telling a superior officer, "It was my fault. I bumped into him and it went off."
Investigation Findings and Safety Concerns
The official cause of death was determined to be the "undemanded discharge of a single round from an L115A3 sniper rifle," a specialized weapon used by British forces. CSgt Smart revealed during testimony that misfires were "quite common" during the training exercise, occurring "six or seven times" on the course. He explained these incidents typically happened when percussion caps failed to ignite properly due to insufficient force.
Two possible explanations for the tragedy emerged during the inquest: either the rifle was not properly unloaded, or a round in the chamber had misfired previously. CSgt Smart emphasized that "the most dangerous part is when accidents happen" during training exercises.
Background of the Deceased Soldier
Lance Corporal Spencer had joined the British Army in February 2011 and was promoted to his rank in 2015. He completed basic training at Catterick, Yorkshire, where he finished top of his class and received a ceremonial rifle as recognition of his achievement. Spencer served with the 3rd Battalion The Rifles and had previously sustained serious injuries from a grenade while deployed in Afghanistan.
In July 2016, just months before his death, Spencer had purchased a house with his partner, Cherycce Connelly. His parents, partner, and one brother attended the inquest proceedings at Winchester Coroners' Court, where a two-week jury investigation continues to examine the circumstances surrounding his death.
A previous inquiry into the incident was conducted at Tain Sheriff Court, with a report published in January 2025. The training exercise on the day of Spencer's death was identified as the Annual Combat Marksmanship Test (ACMT), a standard evaluation for military personnel.
