Teenage soldier found dead after assault

Gunner Jaysley Beck, 19, was found dead at her Wiltshire barracks five months after being sexually assaulted by her sergeant major, Warrant Officer Michael Webber, at a training exercise in July 2021.

Warrant officer jailed for assault

Webber was convicted of sexually assaulting Gunner Beck, who said he pinned her down and tried to kiss her. He was sentenced to six months in jail.

Officers cleared of cover-up charges

Colonel Samantha Shepherd and Major James Hook were acquitted of conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline at a court martial at Catterick Garrison. The judge dismissed the case as lacking sufficient evidence.

Judge found evidence inconsistent

Judge Advocate Edward Legard ruled the prosecution's evidence was 'inconsistent, vague and tenuous' with a flawed legal and evidential basis for alleging the officers caused prejudice.

“'Both the legal and evidential basis upon which the Crown allege prejudice is flawed and uncertain.'”

Colonel's handling of complaint questioned

The trial heard Colonel Shepherd deliberately failed to pass on crucial details about the assault allegation to superiors, allegedly because she did not want a service police investigation into her regiment.

Major discouraged victim's complaint

Major Hook, who was leading the training exercise, did not take Gunner Beck's allegations seriously and leaned on her to drop her claims. He considered her allegation spurious because she did not want to be on the exercise.

Major did report assault up chain

The court heard Major Hook did report the sexual assault up the chain of command despite Gunner Beck's reluctance, bringing it to Major Richard Lupton at Larkhill Barracks where she was stationed.

Inquest found Army failed her

An inquest into Gunner Beck's death concluded that the Army's mishandling of the sexual assault complaint played more than a minimal contributory part in her death.

Harassment preceded the assault

Before the sexual assault, Gunner Beck was subjected to relentless harassment from her line manager, Bombardier Ryan Mason, including showing her a 15-page love story he had written.

Mother says daughter was let down

Gunner Beck's mother, Leighann McCready, said the Army failed her daughter badly and that the inquest findings about mishandling and harassment still stand despite the court martial acquittal.

“The Army let our daughter down badly.”

Culture of inappropriate behavior

During the trial, evidence emerged that senior soldiers making passes at junior colleagues was not unusual in the Army, raising questions about the service's culture.

“Even during the trial, the court heard evidence that senior soldiers making passes at junior colleagues, was not at all unusual. What does this tell you about the culture?”

Victim's credibility questioned

One of the first people Gunner Beck told about the assault thought she was making up serious allegations just to get out of the training exercise, causing her family ongoing pain.

“We will never forget that one of the first people who Jaysley spoke to thought she was just making up serious allegations to get out of an exercise.”

Mother vows to push for change

Leighann McCready said she will continue fighting for better safeguarding in the armed forces and a system where those who speak out are protected and believed.

“We will keep pushing for a system where those who speak out are protected, believed, and never left to face it alone.”

Judge acknowledged family's upset

Judge Legard acknowledged his decision was likely to cause upset to Gunner Beck's family, who watched proceedings from the gallery holding a framed photograph of their daughter.

Colonel's barrister says focus on victim

After her acquittal, Colonel Shepherd's barrister said she remains devastated by Gunner Beck's death and is relieved by the decision, but emphasized it is not about her.

“'Colonel Shepherd is relieved by the decision, but it's not about her.'”

Conflicting outcomes in case

The court martial acquittal contradicts the inquest's finding that the Army's mishandling of the complaint contributed to Gunner Beck's death, leaving her family seeking accountability.

Witness testimony proved inconclusive

Major Mae King, who Colonel Shepherd spoke to after the incident, could not be sure exactly how much detail had been discussed during their meeting, undermining the prosecution's case.