Army officers cleared of covering up sex assault on Gunner Jaysley Beck, 19, who later took her own life

From the Newshound archive · first published 19 September 2026.

Leighann McCready, Jaysley Beck's mother, was in the public gallery as Colonel Samantha Shepherd and Major James Hook were acquitted at a court martial on Wednesday. The judge ruled that the evidence against both officers fell short of what was needed to sustain convictions for conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline. Beck, 19, was found dead at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire in December 2021, five months after Warrant Officer Michael Webber, 43 — her sergeant major — sexually assaulted her. Her mother said her daughter was 'let down' by the Army.

Judge Advocate General Edward Legard called the evidence against Major Hook 'inconsistent, vague and tenuous' before directing not guilty verdicts.

Prosecutors had alleged that Hook failed to take Beck's disclosure of abuse seriously and that Shepherd kept crucial details from superiors.

Colonel Shepherd's barrister told the court she had 'always believed' Gunner Beck and had treated her complaint with due seriousness.