Jaysley Beck - MoD should hang its head in shame says Hilary Meredith-Beckham

Hilary Meredith-Beckham has slammed the army for not taking action in the tragic case of Jaysley Beck.

Jaysley took her own life after being sexually assaulted by her sergeant. The Royal Artillery Gunner, 19, was tragically found dead in her barracks at Larkhill, Wiltshire, in December 2021. She was also subject to a terrifying campaign of harassment by her line manager.

The teenager had filed a complaint against Battery Sergeant Major Michael Webber, who has since pleaded guilty to the despicable attack and will be sentenced next month.

An inquest earlier this year found the handling of the complaint had played "more than a minimal contributory part" in Jaysley's death, with the coroner delivering a scathing ruling, highlighting systemic failures.

“The MoD should hang its head in shame,” said Hilary Meredith-Beckham. “Our thoughts are with Jaysley and her family. No apology will ever be enough.”

Added Hilary:

“It is appalling that young recruits, especially women, do not have a trusted chain of command.

“Everyone deserves to work in a safe environment. The issues highlighted in this case bring shame to our armed forces.

"There was a failure on behalf of the Army to take action over the harassment she was suffering from her line manager. And there was a failure on behalf of the Army to take action against the senior officer at whose hands she'd suffered a sexual assault."