Ex Army officer jailed after sexually assaulting soldier who took her own life

An ex Sergeant Major guilty of sexually assaulting a teenage soldier — who later ended her own life — has been jailed.

Former army officer Michael Webber, 43, was sentenced to six months in prison at Court Martial center in Bulford today.

He previously admitted assaulting Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck, 19, who was found hanged on December 15, 2021.

Her inquest ruled that ‘on the balance of probabilities’ Jaysley had been sexually assaulted by a senior colleague, and the Army’s failure to take action ‘more than minimally’ contributed to her death.

Jaysley said Webber –  then a 37-year-old Battery Sergeant Major – made a pass at her during a stay at Thorney Islands in Hampshire, putting his hand between her legs and pinning her down while trying to kiss her.

She pushed him away, and was left so scared by the incident, which happened in July 2021, she ended up sleeping in her car that night for safety

Jaysley, who joined the Army at 16, reported the assault twice, both to her captain and another superior officer further up the chain of command, but she was dissuaded from taking it any further. It was not passed on to police.

Webber received a promotion after Jaysley’s complaint against him, the military court heard.

Speaking after her inquest, an Army spokesperson said it ‘should have done so much more to support and protect’ her.

The inquest in February heard that, as well as the assault, Jaysley had been bombarded by her ‘possessive and psychotic’ line manager, Bombardier Ryan Mason, who professed his love for her in 4,600 WhatsApp messages sent in the space of two months.

Today, shortly before Webber’s sentencing, Jaysley’s mother, Leighann McCready, gave an emotional statement in court.

She said: “She had just turned 19 and she was a teenager full of life and laughter.

‘She had lots of plans for the future and she trusted those around her to protect her and after this that had gone.’

Leighann said Jaysley had called her the morning after the assault happened.

‘She had been very scared of Mr Webber so much so she had taken the decision to lock herself in her car,’ she added.

‘She felt powerless and betrayed. She then found out he had been promoted. ‘I got a letter and he got a promotion’, she said.

‘She told me she had been made to accept a letter of apology.

The mother said the assault on her daughter shattered Jaysley’s faith in the system that was supposed to look after her.

‘Since I lost her, my life has turned upside down,’ she added.

Judge Large told Webber in court: ‘At some point in the early hours of July 13, you told Gunner Beck she was beautiful, you put your hand on the back of her head, you leant in to kiss her and you touched her thigh.

‘She had the courage and good sense to tell you to stop and told you to go to bed, but you persisted to the extent she considered she wouldn’t be safe from you even if she went back to her own accommodation.’

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