British Army promoted the soldier who sexually assaulted Gunner Jaysley Beck, 19
In July 2021 Gunner Jaysley Beck, 19, reported that Warrant Officer Michael Webber had sexually assaulted her at Thorney Island; her chain of command treated it as minor administrative action, Webber wrote her an apology letter, and no police investigation took place. She was found dead at Larkhill Camp on 15 December 2021 after months of harassment by her line manager. On 20 February 2025 a coroner found the failure to report the assault to police breached Army policy, described a 'systemic failure' over the harassment, and ruled the Army's failures contributed 'more than minimally' to her death. Webber stayed in service, was promoted to WO1, pleaded guilty in September 2025 and was sentenced on 31 October 2025 to six months. On 16 September 2026 two officers charged over the handling of her complaint were acquitted at court martial in Catterick.
today's verdict brings no further accountability for those failings, of which the Coroner was rightly so critical
should have done so much more to support and protect her
no police investigation could take place
Apologised and said the Army should have done so much more to support and protect her.
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