A former Army sergeant major has been sentenced to six months in prison for the sexual assault of 19-year-old Gunner Jaysley Beck, a young soldier who later took her own life.
Battery Sergeant Major Michael Webber, 43, pinned Beck down and tried to kiss her during a social event at Thorney Island, Hampshire, in July 2021.
Webber, who has since left the Army, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault at Bulford Military Court and will serve half of his six-month term in custody before being released on licence. He will also remain on the sex offenders’ register for seven years.
Gunner Beck, from Cumbria, was found dead at her barracks in December 2021. A coroner later ruled that the Army’s handling of her complaint against Webber “played more than a minimal contributory part” in her death.
Her mother, Leighann McCready, delivered an emotional statement outside court, saying her daughter had been “failed by the system that was meant to protect her”.
“Jaysley should have sat in court today to see the person she reported held accountable,” she said.
“Instead, we stand here without her, living a life sentence that no family should have to face. She followed the rules, but those responsible didn’t follow theirs.”
Inside court, Ms McCready said her daughter felt “powerless and betrayed” after being told her attacker had been promoted rather than punished.
“‘I got a letter, he got a promotion,’ she told me. That shattered her faith in the system that was supposed to look after her.”
Following the assault, Beck had been ordered to accept an apology letter from Webber — the only disciplinary action taken at the time. In the letter, Webber admitted his behaviour was “unacceptable and unbecoming of rank.”
The court heard that Beck, frightened and in tears, had locked herself in her car overnight after the attack.
Her father, Anthony Beck, told the court:
“He was twice her age and took advantage of her trust. She became quieter, stopped trusting people, and that light went out in her.”
The court also heard that the Army has since introduced reforms through the Defence Serious Crime Command (DSCC) to ensure sexual assault complaints are handled independently of the chain of command.
Assistant Chief of the General Staff, Major General Jon Swift, said the Army remains “profoundly sorry” for the failures identified at Beck’s inquest.
“We didn’t listen to Jaysley when she first reported her assault,” he said. “We are determined to make sure the same mistakes don’t happen again.”
However, Beck’s mother dismissed the Army’s apology as “empty words”.
“They’ve been saying the same things for four years,” she said. “How long does it take for real change?”
Minister for Veterans and People Louise Sandher-Jones MP said Beck’s death “continues to be felt across the Army” and pledged “crucial reform” to ensure recruits can serve “free from abuse and with dignity.”
Jaysley Beck’s family say they will continue to campaign for independent oversight of the military justice system.
“We can’t bring our daughter back,” Ms McCready said. “But we will keep fighting to make sure her voice is finally heard.”
