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Inquest into the death of Gunner Jaysley Beck: Coroner concludes UK government may have breached soldier’s right to life

The inquest into the death of Gunner Jaysley Beck, aged 19, commenced at Salisbury Coroner’s Court on Monday, 10 February 2025, before Coroner Nicholas Rheinberg, and concluded today, Thursday, 20 February 2025. The Coroner determined that Jaysley took her own life after failings and breaches of army policy in the Army’s handling of a previous sexual assault made her reluctant to report her line manager when he later subjected her to sustained harassment.

The inquest heard that in July 2021, Jaysley was sexually assaulted by Battery Sergeant Major Michael Webber during an adventure exercise. She disclosed to a relative that the incident included him placing his hands between her legs, causing her significant distress. Fearing for her safety, she fled and spent the night in her car.

The court also heard that Jaysley was subjected to sustained persistent, unwelcome sexual attention from her line manager. 

Coroner’s Findings

The Coroner concluded that:

  1. There was a failure on behalf of the Army to take action in relation to the harassment that Jaysley-Louise Beck was suffering at the hands of her immediate line manager
  2. There was a failure on behalf of the Army to take appropriate disciplinary action against a senior officer at whose hands she had suffered a sexual assault

The Coroner found that the State had arguably breached Jaysley's Article 2 right to life under the European Convention on Human Rights due to its failure to establish and enforce a robust framework of laws, precautions, procedures, and enforcement mechanisms to protect life, referencing Middleton v HM Coroner for Western District of Somerset (2004) UKHL 10.

Systemic Failures Identified

The Coroner made two key determinations regarding systemic failings within the Army:

  1. Failure to Address Harassment:
     
    • Jaysley was subjected to prolonged and intolerable harassment by her line manager, leading to significant stress, anxiety, sleeplessness, and fear for her safety.
    • Multiple colleagues of superior rank were aware of the situation but failed to report it, despite having a duty to do so.
    • The failure to report constituted a systemic failure, either due to misplaced loyalty or an inadequate complaints system that did not sufficiently encourage engagement.
       
  2. Failure to Properly Investigate a Sexual Assault:
     
    • The inquest found that evidence revealed that there was a failure on behalf of the State to deal with Jaysley’s complaint of sexual assault effectively or appropriately.
    • Senior officers involved in the decision-making process prioritised securing the least punitive outcome for the accused rather than following established procedures.
    • This constituted a systemic failure, as the correct disciplinary and investigative protocols were not adhered to.

Jaysley’s family was represented by Alison Gerry, instructed by Emma Norton of the Centre for Military Justice.

Press coverage includes: The Guardian