A 'beautiful' teenage soldier who died in a suspected suicide over Army sexual harassment feared 'backlash' after she reported a married sergeant for 'pinning her down' and trying to kiss her, an inquest heard today. Gunner Jaysley Beck, 19, was left 'in tears' after Battery Sergeant Major Michael Webber allegedly 'forced himself' on her and 'inappropriately touched' her while on a team building camp. 'Bubbly' Gnr Beck, of the Royal Artillery, accused BSM Webber of trying to 'put his hands between her legs' and was so 'frightened' by the ordeal that she slept in her car, her inquest heard. Lance Bombardier Kirsty Davies, who was best friends with Gnr Beck, today told the hearing that the teenager accepted an apology letter from BSM Webber because she 'didn't want to take matters any further.
Salisbury Coroners Court, Wiltshire, heard Gnr Beck 'didn't want to make a fuss' and while she wasn't 'happy' with what happened, she didn't want to 'get into trouble and cause drama'. Gnr Beck, who joined the Army at 16, was found dead in single living accommodation in Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire on December 15 2021. She was posted to the 14th Regiment Royal Artillery. In July 2021, she attended a team-building camp at Thorney Island, Hants, which involved watersports such as kite surfing and paddle boarding. It was heard that incident took place with Gnr Beck and BSM Webber in which he 'inappropriately touched her'. The soldier's mother Leighann McCready said she was under the impression the sergeant major was 'much older than her'.
Today, LBdr Davies told the inquest that on the evening of the team building, she woke up to 20 missed calls from Gnr Beck. Giving evidence, LBdr Davies said: "I know something happened that night. "They were all having a few drinks and someone tried it on and obviously she was afraid to go back to her room so she just spent the night in her car. I know [BSM Webber] tried to kiss her, I can't remember anything else. She slept in her car that night, she wouldn't let me hang up the phone so she made sure I was on the phone all night. I think she was maybe afraid that he was going to come to the car." Recalling the incident in an earlier statement, LBdr Davies said: "I remember her saying that he had been telling her she was amazing and beautiful. I know this because I know Jaysley hated compliments and this made her feel awkward." LBdr Davies stated that BSM Webber had allegedly 'forced himself' onto Gnr Beck and it had happened 'more than once', the inquest heard. She said: "Jaysley said she had told him no, tried to get away from him but he persisted so she had left. I don't know if he had actually kissed her or just kept trying to." The inquest heard that he was allegedly 'trying to kiss her' and was 'pinning her down'. It was alleged that BSM Webber tried to 'put his hands between her legs'. LBdr Davies said her friend was 'in tears' on the phone and was both 'upset' and 'frightened'. In a text message sent to LBdr Davies, Gnr Beck said the sergeant was 'grabbing the back of my neck for a kiss'. LBdr Davies said she was aware that Gnr Davies reported BSM Webber and received an apology letter from him. The letter, shown to the inquest, said: "My behaviour was unacceptable and I am truly sorry that I put you in the position I did. There is no excuse for behaving the way I did. I hope you can accept this apology and if there is anything that I can do for you my door will always be open." LBdr Davies said her friend accepted the apology letter as she 'just wanted to get it out the way with'. She claimed she knew other female soldiers who left the Army after they were harassed by male soldiers of a higher rank. LBdr Davies said: "Jaysley didn't want to take matters any further because she wanted to make sure nothing happened to Webber. She didn't want anything to happen to him or his job because she didn't want to suffer any backlash.".
LBdr Davies agreed with a barrister representing the family that female soldiers can get a 'bad reputation' for reporting harassment in the Army. She said that other females she knows have had to leave the forces after reporting allegations of abuse. "[Gnr Beck] didn't want to be seen as the wrongdoer," LBdr Davies said in an earlier statement. "Jaysley wasn't happy but if you are a low rank no one will believe you especially if you say something about a higher rank and she didn't want to get into trouble and cause drama.".
Mrs McCready previously said that her daughter was 'deeply upset' by the event and told the sergeant 'get off me sir' during the ordeal. She said her daughter told her he had a wife and child. The inquest also heard today that when Gnr Beck was training in the army, there were 'rumours' that she was dating her trainer, who was eight to nine years her senior. After Gnr Beck left Army Foundation College Harrogate, the pair got into a relationship. The inquest heard on Monday that Gnr Beck had also been subjected to alleged harassment from her line manager, Bombardier Ryan Mason. The pair first met when she joined the Corps Engagement Team in February 2021.
