Married Sergeant Major Who ‘Pinned Down and Tried to Kiss’ Teen Soldier, Leading to Her Suicide, Should Have Faced Harsher Penalty, Inquest Finds
A married senior officer who allegedly attempted to kiss a teenage soldier after pinning her down in 2021 should have faced more severe consequences than merely writing an apology letter, an inquest has heard.
Battery Sergeant Major Michael Webber was accused of inappropriate conduct toward Gunner Jaysley Beck, 19, during an adventure training exercise at Thorney Island, near Emsworth, Hampshire, in July 2021.
Gunner Beck alleged that Webber, who later received a promotion to warrant officer, grabbed her leg, tried to kiss her, and made comments about having been “waiting for a moment to be alone.”
After she reported the incident to superiors, Webber was given a minor administrative action and wrote a letter of apology. Five months later, Gunner Beck was found dead in her barracks room at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire, having taken her own life.
The inquest revealed that Gunner Beck had felt her complaint was dismissed. Bombardier George Young, a friend of Beck, testified that Beck believed her complaint was “squashed” and that Webber wasn’t removed from his post during the investigation.
Young argued that, in such cases, the officer should have been removed from his duties while the complaint was being investigated.
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The inquest also highlighted other concerns regarding Beck’s treatment in the military. She had been receiving messages from another senior colleague, Bombardier Ryan Mason, which she described as “psychotic and possessive.”
Beck confided in Young about her reluctance to report further incidents, fearing that she would be labeled a troublemaker and removed from the team.
Despite these serious allegations, the army’s response was criticized by Beck’s friends and family, who felt that an apology letter was insufficient for such a high-ranking officer’s actions.
Beck’s family and those who knew her described her as a lively, talented soldier, dedicated to her work, and always putting others first.
The inquest has raised questions about the adequacy of military disciplinary measures and whether more could have been done to protect Beck and address the culture of silence surrounding complaints.
