A Wiltshire-based army sergeant took his own life after being arrested for child sex offences, Wiltshire 999s can reveal today.
30-year-old Alex Cairnie, of the Queen’s Royal Hussars, disappeared from his barracks in the Tidworth area at around midday on 6 July 2025.
He was found hanged by a birdwatcher at nearby Warren Hill two days into a major search, which involved hundreds of soldiers and the police.
The army had placed father-of-two Cairnie on a register designed to monitor soldiers who pose a high risk of self-harm, and this was due to the criminal probe.
An inquest at Wiltshire and Swindon Coroner’s Court on 13 February heard that Cairnie was under investigation by Wiltshire Police and had been bailed away from his home address.
However, the nature of his alleged criminal activity was not disclosed in open court.
Wiltshire 999s can reveal that the investigation related to child sexual offences.
Sources claim he had been caught in possession of child abuse material and faced charges, but further details remain unknown at this time.
Just days prior to his death he was interviewed by police at Gablecross Police Station in Swindon.
His cause of death was hanging and toxicology reports showing no sign of drink or drugs.
Senior coroner David Ridley ruled that on the balance of probabilities Cairnie had taken his own life.
‘Alex was a really good soldier. I was told that he would have been in line for staff sergeant the next year,’ Mr Ridley said.
Adding: ‘He was in his element when he was in the middle of a field, freezing cold.
‘I would like to offer my condolences to his family and of course Mrs Cairnie and the young ones as well.
‘Also to his sisters in the sad loss of your brother and your friends.’
