Letter of apology to female soldier not enough, inquest into her death hears

A Royal Artillery warrant officer accused of pinning down and attempting to kiss a teenage soldier should have been penalised more than having to just write a letter of apology, the inquest into the 19-year-old's death has heard.

Battery Sergeant Major Michael Webber had to apologise to Gunner Jaysley Beck after allegedly grabbing her leg and trying to kiss her.

She made a complaint about the soldier, who has since been promoted to WO1, following a stay at Thorney Island in Hampshire in July 2021 for an adventure training exercise.

Gunner Beck claimed then-BSM Webber told her he had been "waiting for a moment for them to be alone" and had engaged her in a drinking game called Last Man Standing before grabbing her leg and trying to kiss her.

Salisbury Coroner's Court heard Gnr Beck pushed the senior NCO away and left the room before spending the night in her car, and making a complaint to her superiors in the morning.

BSM Webber received a minor administrative action and wrote a letter of apology to Gnr Beck.

Five months later, Gnr Beck was found hanged in her room at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire.

She loved the job

Bombardier George Young, a friend of Gnr Beck, told the inquest she would confide in him and that her complaint about BSM Webber had been squashed.

"He wasn't removed from post or anything," he said.

"What I know about how the disciplinary system is supposed to work is, apology or not, that person should be removed from post while being investigated."

The inquest had previously heard how Gnr Beck received thousands of messages from another colleague, Bombardier Ryan Mason, whom she described as being "psychotic and possessive".

Bdr Young said he had encouraged her to report the incidents with Bdr Mason.

"Then it came up in sort of conversation about Thorney and she had reported it and this is what happened," he told the inquest.

"I believe from what she was telling me she didn't want to seem like that girl that was just constantly putting in complaints.

"She was worried that she'd just be seen as causing drama.

"She loved the job... so the biggest fear was being sent back to her unit and taken off the team. She was worrying that they would just remove her from the situation rather than deal with the issue."

The hearing continues.

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