Court martial hears teen soldier was 'let down' before taking her own life after assault
A UK court martial has begun for two senior Army officers accused of mishandling a teenage soldier's report of sexual assault months before she died by suicide in 2021.
A court martial has opened at the Military Court Centre in Catterick against Major James Hook and Colonel Samantha Shepherd, who face charges of conduct prejudicial to good order and service discipline over their handling of a sexual assault report made by Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck.
Gunner Beck, 19, from Cumbria, was found dead in her barracks at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire on 15 December 2021 — five months after former Battery Sergeant Major Michael Webber pinned her down and sexually assaulted her. Webber was jailed for six months last year after admitting the offence.
Prosecutor Commander Patterson told the court that Hook, then a captain, failed to treat Gunner Beck's report with appropriate seriousness, while Shepherd deliberately misreported what she had been told about the incident.
The assault took place during a team training event in Hampshire on 12-13 July 2021, when Webber and Gunner Beck were left drinking alone together and he touched her leg and repeatedly tried to kiss her after pinning her down. Afterwards, Gunner Beck slept in her car overnight, fearing further assault.
Colleague Lance Bombardier Drew Tudor, who found her distressed the next day, urged her to report the incident up the chain of command and brought Hook to speak with her. Hook acknowledged the incident was serious but gave Gunner Beck until noon to decide whether to file a formal complaint.
Prosecutors allege Shepherd deliberately withheld details of the touching when briefing adjutant Captain Mae King, in order to prevent the case being referred to the Royal Military Police, who would treat it as a criminal matter. Military police at the time concluded no crime had occurred because there had been no touching.
Following an earlier inquest into Gunner Beck's death, the Army apologised, acknowledging that mishandling of her complaint had contributed to her death. The trial continues.
