![\"Jaysley](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/skynews-jaysley-bck-michael-webber_7067899.jpg\")
<\/p>\nA former sergeant major has been jailed for six months for sexually assaulting a teenage soldier, who later took her own life after being bombarded with messages by another senior colleague.<\/p>\n
Michael Webber, who was a 39-year-old Battery Sergeant Major at the time, previously pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault. He was sentenced at Bulford Court Martial Centre in Salisbury on Friday.<\/p>\n
He had assaulted 19-year-old Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck, from Cumbria, at a work social event in July 2021.<\/p>\n
Gunner Beck, who had joined the Army at 16, said that Webber had “made a pass” at her, put his hand between her legs and “pinned her down” while trying to kiss her.<\/p>\n
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Image:
\n Jaysley Beck and her mother Leighann McCready. Pic: Family handout\/PA<\/p>\n
She pushed him away and spent the night locked in her car before making a complaint to her superiors in the morning.<\/p>\n
Webber was given a minor sanction, involving him being interviewed and writing Gunner Beck a letter of apology, but the incident was not reported to police.<\/p>\n
An inquest into her death heard she was later bombarded with messages by bombardier Ryan Mason, another senior colleague, who has since left the army, who expressed his love for her.<\/p>\n
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Image:
\n Jaysley Beck at her passing out parade. Pic: Centre for Military Justice\/PA<\/p>\n
The 19-year-old’s body was found in her room at Larkhill barracks, Wiltshire, on 15 December, 2021. An inquest ruled that her death was a suicide.<\/p>\n
During the inquest, coroner Nicholas Rheinberg ruled that “on the balance of probabilities” the Army’s failure to take appropriate action “more than minimally” contributed to her death.<\/p>\n
An army report published in October 2023 also described Gunner Beck being exposed to “an intense period of unwelcome behaviour”, and said it was “almost certain this was a causal factor” in her death.<\/p>\n
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Image:
\n Gunner Beck was found dead at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire in December 2021. Pic: Family handout\/PA<\/p>\n
Wiltshire Police investigated a complaint of harassment submitted by Gunner Beck’s family after her death, relating to Mr Mason’s behaviour, but found the evidence did not support a criminal harassment case.<\/p>\n
Gunner Beck’s mother Leighann McCready said outside the court after Webber’s sentencing: “No sentence will ever be enough.<\/p>\n
“While he serves his time, it’s us who will live with a life sentence for what he did. And now the army failed to protect her afterwards.”<\/p>\n
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Image:
\n Leighann McCready outside the military court<\/p>\n
Ms McCready said her daughter “did everything right, but was failed by the system that was meant to support and protect her”.<\/p>\n
“She followed the rules, but those responsible didn’t follow as they failed to act. Failed to report and failed to follow up,” she added.<\/p>\n
Read more: Ms McCready said she will continue fighting for “real change” in the British Army after Gunner Beck’s death: “Not hollow promises or recycled words that have already failed our daughter and continue to fail others.<\/p>\n “Real action means giving soldiers somewhere truly independent to report serious complaints without fear or favour.<\/p>\n “We cannot bring our daughter back. But I will keep fighting to make sure her life leads to change.”<\/p>\n
Jaysley Beck’s mother urges Army to root out abusers<\/a>
Sexual harassment probes to be removed from chain of command<\/a><\/p>\n