A shamed ex-Sergeant Major has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a teenage female soldier who took her own life – with the Army accused of a ‘cover-up’.
Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck, 19, was found hanging in her room at Larkhill Camp, near Salisbury in Wiltshire, on December 15, 2021.
Her death came following a complaint she made against Battery Sergeant Major Michael Webber after he pinned her down and tried to kiss her, an inquest heard in February this year.
Now Webber, who was serving at the same base, has pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault, at a pre-trial hearing.
Jaysley’s family has welcomed the guilty plea but said ‘nothing can undo the devastating loss of our beautiful daughter’.
And their lawyer responded to the plea by reiterating criticisms of the military chain of command, saying more should have done to investigate Jaysley’s complaints.
February’s inquest concluded she had taken her own life after she made a complaint against Webber, who was accused of pinning her down, attempting to kiss her and placing his hand between her legs during a work social event.
Jaysley’s mother Leighann McCready later revealed how she had to plead to see her daughter’s accommodation following the death – and when finally given permission, found a heartbreaking letter tucked away in the young recruit’s room.
Ex-Battery Sergeant Major Michael Webber has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting Gunner Jaysley Beck (pictured above),who later took her own life aged 19
Warrant Officer Michael Webber (pictured), who has since left the Army, faces sentencing at a later date after entering his plea at a pre-trial hearing on Friday September 5, 2025
Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck, 19, was found hanging in her room at Larkhill Camp, near Salisbury in Wiltshire, on December 15, 2021
Ms McCready has accused the Army over the circumstances surrounding Jaysley’s death, saying after February’s inquest: ‘I believe it was a cover up. It was made clear at this inquest that the army knew what had taken place but did not take Jaysley’s complaint seriously and even tried to get her to change her story.’
She subsequently told the Sunday Times how the letter from Webber, then 39, confessed to an incident on July 12, 2021 and described his own behaviour as ‘absolutely unacceptable’.
He concluded by telling her, ‘My door will always open’ – a phrase which Ms McCready said her daughter found to be dismissive.
Gunner Beck had reported to military chiefs that Webber told her he had been ‘waiting for a moment for them to be alone’, engaged her in a drinking game called Last Man Standing before grabbing her leg and trying to kiss her.
February’s inquest heard she pushed him away and left the room before spending the night in her car and making a complaint to her superiors in the morning, during a stay at Thorney Island, near Emsworth, in Hampshire for an adventure training exercise.
Webber was later given a ‘minor administrative action interview’ over the work social event incident, with no further consequences.
He was later promoted to Warrant Officer 1 (WO1) rank, the highest non-commissioned rank in the Army, in May 2022.
Webber, who has since left the military, is now awaiting sentencing following his guilty plea last Friday.
Gunner Beck during her passing out parade with her father, Anthony Beck
Parents Anthony Beck and Leighann McCready outside Salisbury and Swindon Coroners Court in Salisbury, Wiltshire, for the February 2025 inquest into Jaysley’s death
An inquiry heard evidence from witnesses about inappropriate sexual behaviour by male soldiers towards their female colleagues at Larkhill – Jaysley Beck is pictured
In a statement responding to his admission, Ms McCready said: ‘We are relieved that Michael Webber has admitted his guilt and not put us through the trauma of yet more legal proceedings, but nothing can undo the devastating loss of our beautiful daughter Jaysley.’
She described how her daughter had done ‘everything right’ in reporting the attack ‘immediately, not once but twice’ – but senior Army officers did not alert the police.
Ms McCready added: ‘If they had done that one simple thing, we believe with all our hearts she would still be with us today.’
The family’s lawyer Emma Norton said: ‘What an enormous difference it would have made if the Army and its chain of command had just listened to Jaysley when she first told them about the assault and reported it to the police, instead of trying to persuade her it wasn’t that serious.’
It was only after February’s inquest ruling and a request from Gunner Beck’s family to Wiltshire Police, that a file was sent to the the Service Prosecuting Authority who then charged Webber with sexual assault.
The coroner at the earlier hearing was told of Gunner Beck being traumatised not only by Webber’s attack but also the actions of three other officers – one of whom she had a long-distance affair, another who bombarded her with WhatsApp messages and another with whom she socialised on the night of her death.
In an Army statement following February’s inquest verdict, the head of Army Personnel Services Group, Brigadier Melissa Emmett, said: ‘On behalf of the Chief of the General Staff, I wish to extend the Army’s deepest condolences to Jaysley’s family and friends and to offer them our sincerest apologies for the failings that the Coroner has identified during this inquest.
‘We should have done so much more to support and protect her.
Gunner Jaysley Beck, who joined the military aged 16, died at her Wiltshire base in 2021
She was found to have taken her own life over ‘relentless’ harassment during her service
‘Jaysley was exactly the kind of person the Army needs, and she was excelling at her job. Her friends described her as someone who was kind, funny and always putting others before herself.
‘The three years since Jaysley’s sad death have seen significant changes in the Army, including the introduction of clear and unequivocal policies to state that there will be Zero Tolerance to unacceptable sexual behaviours.
‘These changes are being embedded throughout our culture, policies, and enduring practices across every part of the Army.
‘There is more work to do, and the evidence heard in this inquest reminds us how important it is to make lasting and effective change.
‘It is my hope that such change will give service personnel the confidence they need to report sexual offences and inappropriate behaviours, knowing that they will be listened to.
‘We are absolutely clear that everyone must play a role in building and upholding the respectful, professional environment we all need to thrive.’
The Daily Mail has asked the Army for further comment and response following Webber’s guilty plea and the grieving family’s criticisms.
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