(In US) Ex-Army Sergeant Major Admits Assaulting Soldier Who Later Took Her Own Life

 

A former Army sergeant major has admitted sexually assaulting teenage soldier Jaysley Beck, who later took her own life. The 19-year-old Royal Artillery gunner was found dead in her barracks at Larkhill, Wiltshire, in December 2021, weeks after she reported being attacked by Battery Sergeant Major Michael Webber during a work social. Despite her complaint, an inquest earlier this year concluded that the Army’s handling of the incident played a significant role in her death. Webber, who has since left the military, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault at a pre-trial hearing on Friday and now awaits sentencing.

Beck’s mother, Leighann McCready, said her daughter had “done everything right” by reporting the assault immediately, despite attempts by superiors to dissuade her. She criticised the Army’s failure to escalate the complaint to police, saying: “If they had done that one simple thing, we believe with all our hearts she would still be with us today.” Instead, the case was downgraded to “inappropriate behaviour,” with Webber facing only a minor administrative interview at the time. Weeks later, Beck endured further harassment from another soldier, deepening her distress before her death.

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The inquest into Beck’s death revealed systemic failings in the Army’s chain of command. Capt James Hook was found to have pressured her to drop the complaint, and a “miscommunication” meant that Webber’s attempt to place his hand between her legs was not fully reported. The assault was logged only as a breach of conduct rather than a criminal matter. Beck was also subjected to sustained harassment by Bombardier Ryan Mason, her line manager, who sent her thousands of unwanted messages and a lengthy document detailing his sexual fantasies.

Following the inquest, Wiltshire Police investigated Webber, and in June a file was passed to the Service Prosecuting Authority, leading to the charge of sexual assault. The Army has since apologised for “letting her down,” admitting it “could have, and should have done more.” Beck’s family, represented by solicitor Emma Norton, welcomed Webber’s guilty plea but said the tragedy could have been prevented if her initial report had been taken seriously. Norton said: “What an enormous difference it would have made if the Army and its chain of command had just listened to Jaysley and reported it to the police, instead of trying to persuade her it wasn’t that serious.”

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