Sergeant who ‘pinned down & tried to kiss soldier, 19,...

A SERGEANT who pinned down and tried to kiss a soldier before she took her own life was promoted despite being sanctioned, an inquest heard. Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck was discovered dead at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire on December 15, 2021. The 19-year-old was allegedly targeted by a senior colleague, Battery Sergeant Major Michael Webber in July 2021. An inquest heard how Jaysley had called another colleague in tears claiming Webber had pinned her down and tried to kiss her.

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He received a minor sanction on his record but was still promoted to Warrant Officer 1 rank in May 2022. The court was told Jaysley had filed a complaint but details of the offence were omitted and a "miscommunication" meant improper legal advice was given. Webber confirmed he planned to leave the Army this April but refused to answer further questions. But the hearing was told he had written a letter of apology to Jaysley describing his behaviour as "absolutely unacceptable".

Image Credit: The Sun [Photo of Jaysley Beck, a teenage soldier.]

The alleged incident took place at an adventure training exercise at Thorney Island, near Emsworth in Hampshire. Jaysley claimed Webber told her he was waiting for a moment for them to "be alone" then engaged in a drinking game. She said he then grabbed her leg and tried to kiss her - despite her begging no, the court was told. She then called her pal, Lance Bombardier Kirsty Davis, to tell her Webber was "trying to kiss her and she was trying to push him away, he was pinning her down".

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Lance Bombardier Davis said: "Jaysley was in tears, she was upset. I think she was just frightened at what was going on and she was crying, just a little bit.". She told the hearing that Jaysley did not want to take the matter further so "nothing would happen to him or his job as she didn't want to suffer any backlash from it". The colleague added: "Jaysley wasn't happy with what had happened but if you are in the Army and a lower rank no-one will believe you, especially against a higher rank.

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"She didn't want to get into trouble or cause a drama.". An Army service inquiry report said the incident was "possibly a factor that may have influenced her failure to report other events that happened subsequently". The inquest heard Jaysley was also subjected to an "intense period of unwelcome behaviour" from Bombardier Ryan Mason. She received thousands of messages from him and described him as being "psychotic and possessive".

Image Credit: The Sun [Photo of a smiling young woman in a military uniform.]

In November alone - the month before Jaysley's death - she received 3,600 messages from her senior colleague. In one, he told her: "You're amazing Jayse, I appreciate you so much, I love everything about you, even your flaws. "I will always be there along for the ride with you, I have said it before but you're stuck with me forever now. I love you x As a friend, I love you.". Jaysley's mum Leighann McCready told the court her daughter felt that Mason was "overstepping the mark of her friendliness" and was becoming a "creep".

Image Credit: The Sun [Black and white photo of Jaysley Beck and her mother Leighann McCready.]

The Army report outlined three "contributory factors" to Jaysley's death - including the "significant strain" of a sexual relationship with a married colleague in the last few weeks of her life. It also said that family issues, including a bereavement, were possibly a factor, as well as the breakdown of a relationship in November 2021. The third mentioned an "unhealthy approach to alcohol, with episodes of binge drinking".