Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck died by suicide in late 2021 after being sexually assaulted by her superior, Battery Sergeant Major Michael Webber. Webber pleaded guilty to the assault following an inquest that highlighted the Army’s inadequate response to her allegations.
Beck reported the assault, which occurred during an extended team-building exercise, yet her commanders failed to refer the matter to police or launch a formal investigation. This contributed directly to her deteriorating mental health and decision to take her life.
The coroner condemned the chain of command’s failure and recognized the impact of another colleague’s obsessive harassment on Beck’s well-being.
