Former Sergeant Major admits sexually assaulting teen soldier before her death
Jaysley Beck died at Larkhill Barracks in December 2021
Last updated 8th Sep 2025
A former Army Sergeant Major in Wiltshire has admitted to sexually assaulting a teenage soldier in the weeks before her death.
19 year old Gunner Jaysley Beck took her own life in December 2021 at Larkhill Barracks.
She had made a complaint about the actions of ex-Battery Sergeant Major Michael Webber, which had left her in a state of terror.
Gunner Beck alleged that then-BSM Webber, who has now left the Army, had tried to pin her down and kiss her during an adventure training exercise at Thorney Island in Hampshire in July 2021.
It left the teenager fearful enough to spend the night sleeping in her car with an open phone call to a friend who was on night watch.
After making her complaint, Jaysley was encouraged to drop the allegations by Army bosses, before it was eventually passed on to senior officials because "the cat was already out of the bag".
Mr Webber faced minimal disciplinary action, in which he was forced to write a letter of apology, which he signed with "my door is always open".
An inquest into Jaysley's death in February found how the Army handled the complaint had played "more than a minimal contributory part in her death".
In the weeks after the incident with Mr Webber, the inquest heard that she was subjected to "relentless harassment" by her line-manager, Bombardier Ryan Mason, who sent her 4,600 text messages confessing his feelings for her as well as a 15-page 'love story' about her.
Jaysley's family asked Wiltshire Police to consider criminal proceedings against Mr Webber following the inquest.
Their solicitor, Emma Norton said it would have made an "enormous difference" had the Army handled the complaint appropriately.
The Army admitted in February it should have done more and says it has now introduced clear policies to take a zero tolerance approach to unacceptable sexual behaviours.