Jaysley Beck: Colonel found not guilty of mishandling allegations made by female soldier who killed herself

Thank you for subscribing!

Jaysley Beck took her life five months after being sexually assaulted by a superior

Two serving Army officers have been found not guilty of mishandling sexual abuse allegations made by a teenage solider who went on to take her own life.

Major James Hook and Colonel Samantha Shepherd were cleared of wrongdoing at the Military Court Centre at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire today.

They were accused of not properly handling the case of Gunner Jaysley Beck, from Cumbria, after she was sexually assaulted by former Battery Sergeant Michael Webber and then took her own life at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire 2021.

Comprising of an air commodore, a Royal Navy captain and an army colonel, the court martial board returned a not guilty verdict, citing "insufficient evidence" against the senior military pair.

Major Hook did not treat the matter seriously, prosecutors said, while Colonel Shepherd was accused of not passing on crucial details when Gunner Beck reported the sexual assault.

Webber, 43, was jailed for six months by a military court last year after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting the 19-year-old five months before her death.

An inquest into Gunner Beck's death found the incident and the Army's failure to act "more than minimally" contributed to her death.

The Service Prosecution Authority charged Major Hook and Colonel Shepherd earlier this year.

Colonel Shepherd was cleared first, as "the Crown concluded there was insufficient evidence" to "safely convict" her.

Her lawyer, Derek Johashen, said: "Colonel Shepherd is relieved by the decision. But it's not about her."

He said his client is fully aware of the impact the case has had on Gunner Beck's family.

"She always believed Gunner Beck, took her complaint seriously, listened to her and cared."

In the case of Major Hook, the judge said: "The evidence in this case is of an inconsistent, vague and tenuous nature.

"Both the legal and evidential basis on which the the Crown alleges prejudice is flawed and uncertain.”

The judge ruled Major Hook had no case to answer after prosecutors withdrew their case against Colonel Shepherd.

The judge addressed the public gallery, saying: "I do recognise that today’s outcome is likely to cause some upset, particularly to those closely associated with the late Jaysley Beck.

He continued: "I hope that you appreciate that the court’s duty is to ensure that justice is served, and that applies to all parties involved."

Earlier this week, a court martial heard how Gunner Beck told both defendants about an incident that occurred during a Royal Artillery adventure training exercise on Thorney Island, in Chichester Harbour, in July 2021.

The panel heard the 19-year-old was discovered asleep in her car the following morning by Lance Corporal Drew Tudor, after a drinking session at a barbecue held during the exercise.

Gunner Beck allegedly made allegations concerning Warrant Officer Michael Webber to Lance Coporal Tudor, who then passed them on to Major Hook, who was a captain overseeing the exercise at the time.

The court heard Major Hook subsequently got into the car with Gunner Beck, who repeated her allegations against the warrant officer.

The officer and the young soldier then went for a walk, during which Major Hook allegedly gave her until noon to decide whether she wished to make a formal complaint.

In police interviews, Major Hook denied Gunner Beck had ever told him she had been physically touched by Webber.

He said he had wanted to give her time to consider her options, as she had indicated she did not want the warrant officer to face a court martial.

Major Hook nonetheless reported the matter up the chain of command later that same day, despite her reluctance, the court heard.

Gunner Beck later disclosed what had happened with Webber to Colonel Shepherd, who then approached Captain Mae King, an officer responsible for advising on disciplinary matters within the Royal Artillery.

Colonel Shepherd has denied deliberately omitting to tell Captain King the teenager had alleged the warrant officer touched, or attempted to touch, her.

Captain King, now a Major, faced detailed questioning on Tuesday about what Colonel Shepherd had told her, during her evidence at the court-martial.

Gunner Beck's mother, Leighann McCready, said she respected the court's decision, but it "remains true to say that the Army let our daughter down very badly."

Speaking from outside the military court centre, she said: "Nothing was ever going to bring Jaysley back. But today marks the end of a long and very sad journey for Jaysley and for our family.

"We know, because the coroner found after a 10-day inquest, that the Army failed to take appropriate disciplinary action against a warrant officer who had sexually assaulted her, and it failed to take action in relation to the harassment that continued for months.

"Those failings contributed to her death. Those findings still stand."

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting commented: "The Army has accepted all of the findings identified by the Service Inquiry and responded to the recommendations to improve service life across its culture, policies, and practices.

"While significant reforms have been introduced since Jaysley-Louise’s tragic death, including commissioning the first-ever Armed Forces sexualised behaviour and sexual harassment survey, appointing the first Armed Forces Commissioner, and strengthening the Victim Witness Care Unit and Defence Serious Crime Command, there is more to do.

"I am deeply committed to improving how complaints and crimes are reported and investigated.

"Service personnel must have confidence that unacceptable and criminal behaviour will be tackled, that concerns will be acted upon, and that they will be supported when they come forward."

Brigadier Melissa Emmett, head of Army Personnel Services Group (APSG), speaking on behalf of CGS and the Army, said: "To Jaysley-Louise’s family, we remain deeply sorry for the circumstances surrounding her death, and reiterate my and the Army’s deepest condolences to you, her family, and to her friends.

"The conclusion of this independent court martial brings the legal process in this case to an end.

"We recognise the impact that this process has had on all those involved and that there is no outcome that will lessen the profound loss Jaysley-Louise’s family continues to live with every day.

"In the years since Jaysley-Louise’s untimely death, the Army has acted on the findings of the service inquiry, the inquest, and subsequent investigations as we seek to drive improvements to our culture.

"We are raising expectations of behaviour, strengthening leadership at every level, and improving the way concerns are reported and addressed."