A SERGEANT has been jailed for sexually assaulting a 19-year-old soldier who took her own life after he pinned her down and kissed her.
Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck was at Larkhill Camp in on December 15, 2021.
Jaysley Becktook her own life after she was sexually assaulted by a sergeantCredit: Solent
The 19-year-old was pinned down by Michael Webber who tried to kiss herCredit: PA
Jaysley’s parents Anthony Beck and Leighann McCready attended Webber’s sentencing todayCredit: PA
The 19-year-old had filed a complaint against Battery Sergeant Major Michael Webber, in July 2021.
Jaysley had called another colleague in tears revealing Webber had pinned her down and tried to kiss her at a work event.
An inquest into her death found the Army‘s handling of the complaint played “more than a minimal contributory part in her death”.
Webber, who has left the Army, has now been jailed for six months at Bulford Camp military court after he pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault.
In an emotional victim impact statement, Jaysley’s mum Leighann McCready said her bedroom remains frozen in time with her slippers by her bedside still.
She added: “She had just turned 19 and will always be a teenager full of life and laughter.
“She trusted people to protect her and after what he did, the trust was gone.
“I saw the change before my own eyes. She felt powerless and betrayed. She then found out he had been promoted. ‘I got a letter, he got a promotion’.
“That assault shattered her faith in the set-up that was supposed to look after her.
“I truly believe how it was handled broke something inside her she couldn’t repair. Since I lost her, my life has turned upside down. There’s no peace. If my children don’t answer their phones I panic.”
Nicholas Rheinberg, assistant coroner for Wiltshire and Swindon, ruled Jaysley died by suicide following the sex attack.
He also said the complaint “should have been reported to and the failure to do so breached Army policy”.
The inquest had been told Webber received a minor sanction on his record but was still promoted to Warrant Officer 1 rank in May 2022.
Jaysley’s mum read an emotional victim impact statement todayCredit: PA
Jaysley had filed a complaint but details of the offence were omitted and a “miscommunication” meant improper legal advice was given.
He later wrote a letter of apology to Jaysley describing his behaviour as “absolutely unacceptable”.
The assault took place at an adventure training exercise at Thorney Island, near Emsworth in .
Jaysley claimed Webber told her he was waiting for a moment for them to “be alone” then engaged in a drinking game.
She said he then grabbed her leg and tried to kiss her – despite her begging no, the was told.
The inquest heard Jaysley was also subjected to an “intense period of unwelcome behaviour” from Bombardier Ryan Mason.
She received thousands of messages from him and described him as being “psychotic and possessive”.
In November alone – the month before Jaysley’s death – she received 3,600 messages from her senior colleague.
How to get help
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.net , 0800 585 858
- Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
- HUMEN www.wearehumen.org
- Mind, www.mind.org.uk , 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org , 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, www.samaritans.org , 116 123
Following the inquest, her family asked Wiltshire Police to consider criminal proceedings against Webber.
The force passed a file to the Service Prosecuting Authority who confirmed Webber would be charged with sexual assault.
In a statement after he pleaded guilty, Jaysley’s mum Leighann McCready said: “We are relieved that Michael Webber has admitted his guilt and not put us through the trauma of yet more legal proceedings, but nothing can undo the devastating loss of our beautiful daughter Jaysley.”
The Army previously apologised to Jaysley’s family for “letting her down”.
It added: “We should have done so much more to support and protect her.”
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.
Jaysley had called her colleague in tears after the assaultCredit: PA
She was also subjected to an “intense period of unwelcome behaviour” from another colleague 
