A former Army sergeant major has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting 19-year-old Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck, who later died by suicide after reporting the attack.
Michael Webber, who has since left the Army, admitted the charge of sexual assault at a pre-trial hearing last Friday. He is now awaiting sentencing.
Gunner Beck was found dead in her barracks at Larkhill, Wiltshire, on 15 December 2021. An inquest earlier this year concluded that the Army’s handling of her complaint against Webber played “more than a minimal contributory part” in her death.
Beck reported that Webber had pinned her down and tried to kiss her at a social event. Despite pressure from her superiors to drop the allegation, she reported it twice. However, her complaint was downgraded to “inappropriate behaviour” rather than being referred to police.
Webber faced only a “minor administrative action interview” at the time, and no further consequences. The Army has since apologised to Beck’s family, admitting it “could have, and should have done more.”
In a statement following Webber’s guilty plea, Beck’s mother, Leighann McCready, said: “We are relieved that Michael Webber has admitted his guilt and not put us through the trauma of yet more legal proceedings, but nothing can undo the devastating loss of our beautiful daughter Jaysley.”
McCready condemned the Army’s failure to refer the case to the police. “If they had done that one simple thing, we believe with all our hearts she would still be with us today,” she said.
The inquest also heard that Beck endured “relentless harassment” from another soldier, Bombardier Ryan Mason, who sent her over 4,600 messages, including a 15-page “love story” filled with fantasies about her.
Emma Norton, solicitor for the Beck family, said the guilty plea was a relief but 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.”
The Service Prosecuting Authority confirmed charges against Webber earlier this year after Wiltshire Police passed the case forward. His sentencing is expected in the coming weeks.
The Army has pledged reforms, introducing clear policies with “zero tolerance” towards sexual misconduct. However, Beck’s case remains a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of institutional failings.
