Two serving British army officers face court martial over their handling of the sexual assault case of teenage soldier Jaysley Beck, who later took her own life. Major James Hook and Colonel Samantha Shepherd have been charged with conduct prejudicial to good order and service discipline under the Armed Forces Act.
Beck, a Royal Artillery gunner, was assaulted by former sergeant major Michael Webber during a training exercise in Hampshire in July 2021 when she was 19. She died by suicide five months later. Webber was sentenced to six months in prison in October for the assault.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed the charges on Friday, following an investigation by the Defence Serious Crime Command. Both officers gave evidence at the inquest into Beck's death. The MoD said it would be inappropriate to comment further as legal proceedings are ongoing.
Beck's mother, Leighann McCready, expressed relief that charges had been brought but said the family remains "very unhappy" with parts of the army's response. She criticised the lack of progress on a promised independent complaints process for service personnel, particularly young women.
The assault occurred when Webber engaged Beck in a drinking game before touching her thigh and attempting to kiss her. She reported the incident to superiors, but it was not referred to police, and Webber was later promoted. Since Beck's death, the MoD has established a serious crime command and a violence against women and girls taskforce.
