THE heartbroken mum of a teenage soldier who took her own life after being sexually assaulted by her sergeant has slammed the Army for not taking action.
Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck, 19, was tragically found dead in her barracks at Larkhill, Wiltshire, in December 2021.
The teen filed a complaint against Battery Sergeant Major Michael Webber, who has since pleaded guilty
Jaysley’s mother, Leighann, has slammed the Army for ‘costing me my daughter’
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.
The teenager had filed a complaint against Battery Sergeant Major Michael Webber, who has since pleaded guilty to the shocking attack.
She had accused Webber of pinning her down and trying to kiss her at a work social event, claims he has now admitted to.
But the Army had initially told Webber he needed to write an apology letter to Jaysley, before he shockingly received a promotion.
An inquest earlier this year found the handling of the complaint had played “more than a minimal contributory part” in Jaysley’s death.
In an emotional interview, Jaysley’s mother, Leighann McCready, slammed the Army for “costing me my daughter”.
She told MailOnline: “Had the proper procedure been followed, my daughter would still be alive today.
“Jaysley knew he was guilty… she witnessed him being promoted and said, ‘So that’s what happens in the Army when they do what they do’.
“Have I accepted my daughter’s passing? Absolutely not. I’ve been too busy fighting a crime and too busy fighting for justice.”
Jaysley reported the assault despite attempts by her superiors to persuade her not to.
The inquest into her death heard Captain James Hook had put pressure on her to drop the allegations.
And she eventually reported it to a higher command once the “cat was already out of the bag”.
The inquest heard Jaysley was subjected to “relentless harassment” by another soldier weeks after being assaulted.
Her line manager – Bombardier Ryan Mason – sent her more than 4,600 text messages in which he confessed his feelings for her.
He also sent a 15-page “love story” in which he detailed his “fantasies” about the teenager.
But due to the handling of her previous complaint, Leighann explains that Jaysley was less than willing to speak up against Mason.
The inquest heard there was also a subsequent “miscommunication” through the chain of command following her complaint.
It means that details of Webber’s attempt to place his hand between Jaysley’s legs were lost.
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Webber – who has since left the Army – pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault at a pre-trial hearing and now awaits his sentencing.
In a statement, Leighann said: “We are relieved Michael Webber has admitted his guilt and not put us through the trauma more legal proceedings.
“But nothing can undo the devastating loss of our beautiful daughter Jaysley.”
Leighann said her daughter had done “everything right”, reporting the assault “immediately, not once but twice”.
She said the Army’s chain of command had failed her daughter by not reporting the sexual assault to the police.
Instead of claims being reported to police, it was instead recorded as “inappropriate behaviour unbecoming of a warrant officer”.
Leighann said her daughter had done ‘everything right’
Jaysley’s family asked Wiltshire Police to consider criminal proceedings against Webber
Webber was given just a “minor administrative action interview” at the time, with no further consequences.
Leighann added: “If they had done that one simple thing, we believe with all our hearts she would still be with us today.”
Following the inquest in February, Jaysley’s family asked Wiltshire Police to consider criminal proceedings against Webber.
Cops then passed a file to the Service Prosecuting Authority in June.
The service later confirmed Webber would be charged with the offence of sexual assault.
The Army has apologised in the past to Jaysley’s family for “letting her down”.
Speaking after the inquest, it said: “We could have, and should have done more.”
It says it has now introduced clear and unequivocal policies to state there will be “zero tolerance to unacceptable sexual behaviours”.
Emma Norton, the solicitor acting for Jaysley’s family, said it was an enormous relief that Webber had now pleaded guilty.
She added: “What an enormous difference it would have made if the Army and its chain of command had just listened to Jaysley…
“… when she first told them about the assault and reported it to the police, instead of trying to persuade her it wasn’t that serious.”
The Army has apologised in the past to Jaysley’s family for ‘letting her down’PA Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
