British army officers face court martial over Jaysley Beck sexual assault case | UK news
Two serving British officers have faced criminal charges in connection with the sexual assault case of young soldier Jaysley Beck, who later committed suicide.
Beck, a Royal Artillery Gunner, was attacked during a training exercise in Hampshire in July 2021, aged 19, and killed himself five months later.
Former sergeant major Michael Webber, who has since left the army, was sentenced to six months in prison in October for sexually assaulting Beck.
On Friday the Ministry of Defense said the Service Prosecuting Authority, the equivalent of the Crown Prosecution Service for military personnel, had charged the two officers with offenses related to undermining military discipline.
It is understood that Major James Hook and Colonel Samantha Shepherd, who testified in the investigation into Beck’s death, will be tried in a military court due to the accusations.
The Ministry of Defense said: “Following an investigation by Defense Serious Crime Command, we can confirm that two men have been charged with offenses under section 19 of the Armed Forces Act (conduct prejudicial to good order and service discipline).
“As legal proceedings are ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further.”
Webber had engaged Beck in a drinking game before touching her thigh and trying to kiss her. He drove her away and spent the night locked in his car before complaining to his superiors the next morning.
However, the incident was not reported to the police and Webber wrote a letter of apology to Beck. He was later promoted.
Since Beck’s death, the Ministry of Defense has established a serious crime command and launched a working group on violence against women and girls, and more recently agreed in principle that serious complaints should be handled from individual services.
