POWERLESS & BETRAYED

THE grieving mother of a teen soldier who took her own life after a senior comrade sexually assaulted her has slammed the Army after he was jailed for just six months.

- BY CHRIS HUGHES Defence and Security Editor

SYSTEM FAILURE Gunner Beck felt let down by the Army

Gunner Jaysley Beck, 19, committed suicide within months of being attacked by Warrant Officer Michael Webber, 43, in 2021.

Her mum, Leighann McCready, said the family is now suffering a life sentence because of the tragedy.

She told the court: "She had just turned 19 and she was a teenager full of life and laughter.

"She had lots of plans for the future and she trusted those around her to protect her and after this that had gone. She called me the morning after it happened and I could tell something was wrong.

"She had been very scared of Mr Webber so much so she had taken the decision to lock herself in her car.

"She felt powerless and betrayed. She then found out he'd been promoted. She told me she had been made to accept a letter of apology.

"That assault shattered her faith in the system that was supposed to look after her. Since I lost her, my life has turned upside down."

After the sentencing at Bulford Military Court Centre in Wiltshire, Ms McCready lashed out at what she perceives to be the lenient punishment meted out to Webber.

She said: "No sentence would be good enough. What he did and how the Army failed to protect her afterwards cost our daughter her life.