Jaysley suffered cumulative effect of abuse before taking her life, lawyer says
Gunner Jaysley Beck, who was found dead in her accommodation at Larkhill Camp in 2021, was under "intolerable pressure" from her chain of command and had no faith her complaints would be dealt with effectively, a lawyer representing her family has said.
Solicitor Emma Norton spoke to BFBS Forces News after former Battery Sergeant Major Michael Webber pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the Royal Artillery soldier.
At an inquest into her death, the court heard that Gnr Beck had made a complaint against Webber following an incident at a social work event at Thorney Island in Hampshire.
Cumulative effect of abuse
She said Webber had made a pass at her, putting his hands between her legs and pinned her down, before trying to kiss her.
Solicitor Emma Norton, acting on behalf of the Beck family, said the 19-year-old felt "very, very afraid" following the incident, locking herself in the toilet and hiding her feet from the floor so he wouldn't find her.
She then locked herself in her car and slept there overnight, afraid he was going to come into her accommodation and look for her.
Gnr Beck reported the incident on two separate occasions to her chain of command, but rather than referring it to higher command, the inquest heard that Captain James Hook put pressure on Gnr Beck to drop the allegations.
The incident was recorded as "inappropriate behaviour unbecoming of a warrant officer" and was never reported to the police.
Webber was later given a "minor administrative action interview" and received no further consequences.
"If her chain of command had believed Jaysley had done the right thing and passed it to the police, then they [the family], firmly believe with very good reason, that Jaysley would still be here today," said Ms Norton.
"It was a cumulative effect. It inevitably affected the way she responded to the months of extreme sexual harassment that she then got from Ryan Mason, which put intolerable pressure on her."
The inquest revealed a prolonged period of sexual harassment.
Between October and December 2021, another soldier, Bombardier Ryan Mason, sent 4,600 text messages in an act described as an "intense period of unwelcome behaviour".
"If that sexual assault had been dealt with effectively at the beginning, they genuinely believe she would have dealt with everything that followed differently," Ms Norton added.
During the inquest into her death, Coroner Nicholas Rheinberg concluded that on the balance of probabilities, Gnr Beck had been sexually assaulted by Webber.
He added that failings by the Army to act "more than minimally" contributed to her death and the incident should have been reported to police and the failure to do so breached Army policy.
A "hellish" four-year campaign for justice
Following the inquiry, Gnr Beck's family asked Wiltshire Police to consider criminal proceedings against Webber.
In June, it was confirmed he would be charged with the offence of sexual assault, which he admitted at a pre-trail hearing on 5 September.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Gnr Beck's mother, Leighann McCready, said: "Four years we've waited for some form of justice for Jaysley, but the outcome will never bring out daughter back.
"I should be grieving our daughter, and not fighting for justice, and that has taken away what I should naturally be processing as a grieving parent."
Describing the last four years as "hellish", Mrs McCready said she hoped her fight for justice would help others speak up, and said Jaysley was "sending her strength to get her through each and every day".
Defence Minister Luke Pollard said: "Frankly, we need to do more to change the culture of our Armed Forces so that everyone is valued and we root out the abuse that we have seen in the past.
"We make it very clear that when people join the Armed Forces, in any role, at any rank, that the high standards we expect of them are ones that apply in all situations."
The Army later apologised to the Beck family for "letting her down".
Regarding Webber, an MOD spokesman said: "Following an investigation by the Defence Serious Crime Command, we can confirm that former WO1 Michael Webber pleaded guilty to a single charge of sexual assault and will be sentenced on October 31 2025 at Bulford Military Court Centre."
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