The mother of Gunner Jaysley Beck has accused the British army of making 'empty promises' after the 19-year-old took her own life following a sexual assault by a senior colleague. Leighann McCready said the conviction of former warrant officer Michael Webber did not feel like justice, and that promised changes to support victims of sexual assault had been too slow.
Beck joined the army at 16 and was assaulted by Webber during an exercise in Hampshire in July 2021. She reported the attack but the police were not informed, and she was encouraged to accept a letter of apology from Webber. Later that year, she was found dead at a barracks in Wiltshire.
At the inquest in February, coroner Nicholas Rheinberg criticised 'systemic' flaws in the army's investigation, saying senior officers sought the least serious punishment for Webber. The family pushed for a police investigation, leading to Webber's sentencing eight months later.
McCready said the family had to fight for progress at every stage. 'Jaysley was disbelieved, dissuaded from reporting and then urged to accept a letter of apology,' she said. 'At every stage we have had to push for this ourselves.'
The Ministry of Defence has announced a new specialist tri-service team for serious complaints and an independent armed forces commissioner, but McCready said details were lacking. She advised young women not to join the armed forces until 'proper change' occurs, adding: 'They protect themselves and not the soldiers.'
