On October 31, 2025, the British Army faced a reckoning years in the making. At the Court Martial Centre in Bulford, Wiltshire, former Warrant Officer Michael Webber was sentenced to six months in prison for sexually assaulting 19-year-old Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck—a crime that, according to her family and the findings of a coroner, contributed to Beck’s tragic suicide five months later. The case has sent shockwaves through the military and reignited fierce debate over the treatment of women in the armed forces, the adequacy of institutional responses to sexual misconduct, and the urgent need for reform.
Beck’s ordeal began in July 2021 during a training exercise at Thorney Island, Hampshire. Webber, then a 39-year-old senior non-commissioned officer, engaged Beck in a drinking game called Last Man Standing. According to BBC, Webber told Beck she was "beautiful" before putting his hand on the back of her head, trying to kiss her, and touching her thigh. Beck, frightened and powerless, pushed him away and asked him to stop. When he persisted, she hid in a toilet, standing atop a seat to avoid being found, and ultimately locked herself in her car overnight for safety. As her sister Emilli Beck recounted in court, "Jaysley called me that day after the incident and explained the actions of Michael Webber. She was disgusted. Michael Webber had severely frightened her that night."
The next morning, Beck reported the assault to her chain of command, her mother, and friends. But rather than launching a formal investigation, her superiors handled the complaint as a "minor administrative issue," which meant police were never involved. Webber was interviewed, admitted to "unacceptable behaviour," and wrote Beck a letter of apology. Astonishingly, he was promoted shortly thereafter. Beck told her mother, "I got a letter, he got a promotion"—words that, according to Leighann McCready, have "echoed in my head ever since."
Five months later, on December 15, 2021, Beck was found hanged in her room at Larkhill Camp, Wiltshire. In February 2025, Assistant Coroner Nicholas Rheinberg ruled at her inquest that the Army’s failure to take appropriate action had made a "more than minimal" contribution to her death. The coroner was unequivocal: Beck’s complaint "should have been reported to police and the failure to do so breached army policy."
Further investigation revealed that Beck had been subjected to a "number of inappropriate behaviours by personnel senior to her in the months before her death," according to a 2023 service inquiry cited by The Independent. One such case involved another senior colleague, Bombardier Ryan Mason, who sent Beck thousands of messages. Wiltshire Police investigated this as harassment but found insufficient evidence for a criminal case. The same police force later investigated Webber’s assault but declined to refer the case to the Crown Prosecution Service, transferring jurisdiction to the Defence Serious Crime Unit. Only in August 2025 was Webber charged with sexual assault, to which he pleaded guilty in September.
During the sentencing, Judge Advocate General Alan Large addressed Webber directly, noting the "adverse effect on morale and on the reputation of HM armed forces." Webber, who had served in the Army for over 22 years and left in August 2025, was also placed on the sex offenders register for seven years and demoted to the lowest rank. He will serve half of his sentence in a civilian prison. His lawyer, Matthew Scott, told the court, "He is devastated by what happened to Miss Beck. He doesn’t seek to shy away from his responsibility for what happened, he accepts through me that his actions on that night on Thorney Island contributed in some way to the tragic outcome when she took her own life in December, about five months later."
For Beck’s family, the sentence marks only the beginning of a long struggle for justice and change. Her mother, Leighann McCready, described the profound transformation in her daughter after the assault: "My bright, confident daughter became quiet and withdrawn." She holds both Webber and the Army responsible: "What he did and how it was handled afterwards cost our daughter her life. She did everything right, but was failed by the system there to support and protect her. She followed the rules, but those responsible failed to follow theirs." McCready has become a vocal advocate for reform, warning outside the courthouse, "Clearly not, as they protect their own. Is it a safe space? No. This is still continuing—I’m still inundated by young women saying ‘what happened to your daughter is happening to me’, and they’re still being disbelieved... We are giving them the strength to continue and speak up."
The family has called for independent bodies to handle complaints, arguing that "the army can’t keep on marking its own homework." They also criticized the Army’s decision not to release a custody image of Webber after sentencing, claiming it protected his identity. "People deserve to see the man—he deserves to be out there, he deserves to be shamed," McCready said. She rejected the Army’s apologies as "empty words," insisting, "To stand here and say we’re making these changes—it’s four years on. How long does it take for changes to be made and real action to be made? Real change needs to happen now. Real change needed to happen after my daughter’s passing."
The Army, for its part, has acknowledged its failings. Major General Jon Swift, Assistant Chief of the General Staff, said, "We will always be profoundly sorry for the failings that were identified at Jaysley’s inquest in February. The end of this court martial is another traumatic step in the journey for Jaysley’s family, and we acknowledge that today’s outcome has come too late for their beloved daughter. We are sorry we didn’t listen to Jaysley when she first reported her assault. We are determined to make sure the same mistakes don’t happen again." He pointed to the introduction of a "significant cultural reform programme" and the 'Raising our Standards' initiative, designed to improve training, leader selection, and complaint handling. Veterans minister Louise Sandher-Jones echoed this, stating, "All those who choose to serve our country, particularly our newest recruits, must be able to do so free from abuse, and with the dignity and respect they deserve. We are honouring Jaysley’s legacy by bringing about crucial reform, to provide a place where people are proud to work and have faith in the service justice system."
Yet for Beck’s family and many advocates, meaningful change remains elusive. McCready’s message to young women is stark: "Until real change has been made, don’t join the army. They’re still failing us." The case has become a rallying point for campaigners demanding independent oversight and real accountability in the armed forces. As the British Army grapples with the consequences of this tragedy, the question lingers: will Jaysley Beck’s legacy finally force the change so many have called for?
If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email [email protected], or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch. Rape Crisis offers support for those affected by rape and sexual abuse. You can call them on 0808 802 9999 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, and 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland, or visit their website at www.rapecrisis.org.uk. If you are in the US, you can call Rainn on 800-656-HOPE (4673).
