The mother of a teenage soldier who took her own life following relentless harassment has stated that no apology from the Army “will ever bring our daughter back.”
Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck, 19, was found hanged in her barracks at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire on December 15, 2021, after attending a work Christmas party.
An inquest concluded that the Army’s failure to address the harassment she faced from her line manager and the sexual assault committed by a senior colleague contributed to her death.
Coroner Nicholas Rheinberg determined that the Army did not take appropriate action against those responsible, stating that their failure to report the sexual assault to the police was a direct violation of Army policy. Instead, the incident was recorded as “inappropriate behaviour unbecoming of a warrant officer.”
“It was a sexual assault carried out on a 19-year-old Gunner by a middle-aged man of senior rank, and was recorded merely as inappropriate behaviour,” Rheinberg said.
Following the inquest’s conclusion on Thursday, Rheinberg ruled that Gunner Beck had intended to take her own life due to the distress caused by these “frightening” incidents. He highlighted the Army’s lack of response in handling her complaints and ensuring her safety.
Family Demands Independent Scrutiny
Gunner Beck’s mother, Leighann McCready, rejected the Army’s apology, calling for independent scrutiny of military investigations into sexual harassment and abuse.
“The Army cannot be allowed to investigate itself anymore when it comes to cases of sexual harassment, assault, bullying, and abuse,” McCready said.
“Too often service women and men don’t feel able to speak up out of fear of being victimised, and even when they do, the Army is left to investigate itself. This cannot continue. Jaysley should still be here, and we will not stop fighting until immediate action is taken.”
Brigadier Melissa Emmett, head of the Army personnel services group, acknowledged the Army’s failures and apologised to Beck’s family. She stated that “significant changes” had been made, including clearer policies ensuring “zero tolerance to unacceptable sexual behaviours.”
“There is more work to do. It is my hope that such change will give service personnel the confidence they need to report sexual offences and inappropriate behaviours, knowing that they will be listened to,” Emmett said.
Despite these assurances, Rheinberg said he would not prepare a report to prevent future deaths, stating that he was “reassured” by the Army’s commitment to reviewing its policies.
Military Culture Under Scrutiny
The case has reignited discussions about the culture within the armed forces. Gemma Morgan, a former Army officer and public speaker, shared her own experiences, describing sexual harassment in the military as “not a historic issue, it is current.”
Morgan, who served from 1996 to 2002, recounted being raped by a colleague following an operational tour. When she sought help, she was met with silence.
“It made me quite vulnerable in an environment that was very predatory,” Morgan said. “We need to do better. That starts with defence accepting they have a problem and having the humility to work with experts to create much-needed change.”
The case of Gunner Beck has intensified calls for external oversight and independent investigations into allegations of sexual misconduct in the military, with campaigners arguing that systemic change is long overdue.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
