Army failing recruits, late soldier's mother says

Gunner Jaysley Beck took her own life in December 2021

The mother of a soldier who took her own life after being sexually assaulted by a superior says she does not believe the Army is a safe space for young women - even after the officer's conviction.

Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck, 19, was found dead in her barracks at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire in 2021 after a Christmas party.

A coroner ruled the attack by Warrant Officer Michael Webber contributed to her death. Webber has now pleaded guilty to assaulting Gunner Beck.

Mother Leighann McCready told BBC Breakfast that the Army was "a long way" from improving the welfare of others.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast on Tuesday, Ms McCready said: "It is really difficult to put into words how I am feeling - not just myself but my whole family.

"We have waited for years years for some form of justice for Jaysley and the outcome will never bring our daughter back.

"We shouldn't have had to go through this."

The inquest heard Gunner Beck, who was from Cumbria, had made a complaint against Webber following an adventure training exercise in July 2021.

She had said that he had "made a pass" at her, put his hand between her legs and "pinned her down" while trying to kiss her, the hearing was told.

Leighann McCready said she is "a long way" from improving welfare standards

Gunner Beck, who joined the Army at 16, had been left scared by the incident and ended up sleeping in her car for safety, the inquest was told.

Ms McCready said that Gunner Beck had twice raised a complaint, and that she had sat down with senior figures in the days after her daughter's death and laid out the allegations again.

"I felt like I was putting my own crime case together, which I shouldn't have been," she said.

"I should have been grieving for for my daughter and not fighting for justice."

Defence Minister Luke Pollard said: "Frankly, we need to do more to change the culture of our armed forces, so that everyone is valued, that we root out the abuse that we've seen in the past."

He added: "We make it very clear that when people join the armed forces in any role, at any rank, that the high standards we expect of them are ones that apply in all situations."

But Ms McCready said she did not believe that there has been a culture change in the army.

"So [Mr Pollard] may wish to to recruit, but are they confident in way the reporting procedure is led? Right now, I am not. I'm absolutely not," she said.

"We are a long way from [improving] the welfare of others."

Gunner Beck was found dead in her barracks at Larkhill Camp 10 days before Christmas

She and her family are calling for complaints raised within the armed forces to be handled by independent investigators.

"In memory of our daughter I will not stop because I do not wish this upon upon another family," Ms McCready said.

"I hope on the back of what we are are going through, this will help somebody else and think, if Jaysley Beck's mum can speak up and go through this, we can also speak up and say 'the same's happened to us'."