A former British Army sergeant has admitted sexually assaulting 19-year-old soldier Jaysley Beck, whose death in 2021 was partly linked to the Army’s mishandling of her complaint.

Beck, a Royal Artillery gunner, was found dead at her barracks in Larkhill, Wiltshire, on December 15, 2021, soon after she reported Battery Sergeant Major Michael Webber for inappropriate behavior.

Webber, who has since left the Army, pleaded guilty at a pre-trial hearing to sexually assaulting Beck at a social event, where he pinned her down and tried to kiss her.

An earlier inquest concluded that the Army’s failure to properly act on her complaint contributed significantly to her death.

Beck’s mother, Leighann McCready, welcomed Webber’s guilty plea but criticized the systemic failures that followed her daughter’s report. “We are relieved he admitted his guilt, but nothing can undo the loss of our beautiful daughter,” she said.

The inquest showed that Beck reported the assault multiple times, despite attempts by senior officers to pressure her into dropping the allegations.

Captain James Hook delayed reporting the complaint, only passing it higher up after it was already circulating.

Important details, including Webber’s attempt to place his hand inappropriately on Beck, were not escalated. The incident was logged merely as “inappropriate behavior unbecoming of a warrant officer,” and Webber faced only a minor administrative interview.

Beck also faced further harassment after the assault. Her line manager, Bombardier Ryan Mason, sent her more than 4,600 text messages and a 15-page “love story” revealing his obsession with her.

McCready said her daughter had “done everything right” but was failed at every stage. She believes that if the Army had reported the assault to the police immediately, her daughter might still be alive.

Following the inquest, Wiltshire Police reviewed the case and passed it to the Service Prosecuting Authority, which brought charges against Webber.

The Army has apologized to Beck’s family, admitting it “could have and should have done more.” Officials say new policies now enforce a zero-tolerance stance on sexual misconduct.

Emma Norton, the family’s solicitor, described Webber’s guilty plea as a relief but criticized the Army’s initial handling. “It would have made a huge difference if the chain of command had taken Jaysley’s complaint seriously from the start,” she said.