A former Army Sergeant Major in South Wiltshire has admitted to sexually assaulting a teenage soldier just weeks before her death.
Jaysley Beck, 19, was a Royal Artillery Gunner, died in her barracks at Larkhill in Wiltshire in December 2021.
Former Battery Sergeant Major Michael Webber admitted to sexual assault at a work party where he pinned her down and tried to kiss her. Despite being scared, Beck reported what had happened.
Her family say she did everything right by telling her superiors—not once, but twice. However, the Army did not handle the situation appropriately.
Her mother, Leighann McCready, said that if the Army had reported the assault to the police when Jaysley first complained, “we believe with all our hearts she would still be with us today.”
An inquest found that the Army’s poor handling of the complaint “played more than a minimal part” in Jaysley’s death. The inquest also revealed that some officers had pressured Jaysley to drop the allegations. Miscommunication in the Army meant key details about the assault were lost, and the case was only recorded as “inappropriate behaviour,” not treated as a crime. Webber faced a minor interview but no serious consequences at the time.
After the assault, Jaysley also faced harassment from another soldier. Her line manager, Bombardier Ryan Mason, sent her more than 4,600 text messages and even a 15-page story about his feelings and fantasies.
Months later, following the inquest, the police and the Service Prosecuting Authority reviewed the case. Michael Webber has now pleaded guilty to sexual assault.
The Army has already apologised to Gunner Beck's family for "letting her down", saying after the inquest, "We could have, and should have done more."
The Army says it has now introduced unequivocal policies stating there will be "zero tolerance to unacceptable sexual behaviours".
Emma Norton, Gunner Beck's family's solicitor, said it was an enormous relief that the man who had sexually assaulted her had now pleaded guilty.
She added: "What an enormous difference it would have made if the Army and its chain of command had just listened to Jaysley when she first told them about the assault and reported it to the police, instead of trying to persuade her it wasn't that serious."
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