Coroner rules Army mishandling of sexual assault contributed to soldier's death

A coroner ruled that the Army's mishandling of a sexual assault complaint contributed significantly to the death of Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck, who was found hanged in December 2021. During an inquest, it was revealed that Beck, 19, had reported being sexually assaulted by Battery Sergeant Major Michael Webber, who allegedly pinned her down and attempted to kiss her during a training exercise. The coroner noted that Beck's complaint was inadequately addressed, resulting in only a minor sanction against Webber and a failure to report the incident to police, which breached Army policy. Additionally, Beck faced harassment from another colleague, which left her feeling terrified and isolated. Following her death, Brig Melissa Emmett of the Army acknowledged the systemic failures in their response to Beck's complaint and expressed regret. The case has sparked a broader outcry, with over 1,000 female soldiers sharing their own experiences of abuse and harassment in the military.