Two senior British Army officers are currently on trial for allegedly mishandling a sexual assault report made by a teenage soldier months before her death, a court martial has heard.
Senior officers accused of suppressing sexual assault claim
Major James Hook and Colonel Samantha Shepherd are facing charges of conduct prejudicial to good order and service discipline at a court martial in Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire. The allegations stem from their handling of a report made by Gunner Jaysley Beck, 19, who claimed she was sexually assaulted during a training exercise in July 2021.
Beck was found dead at her barracks in Wiltshire in December 2021, five months after reporting the incident. The court heard that Hook and Shepherd discouraged her from pursuing the matter, with Shepherd allegedly attempting to suppress details to avoid military police involvement.
Key timeline of events
On July 12, 2021, Beck attended a social event during an adventure training exercise at Thorney Island, Hampshire. According to prosecutors, she later confided in colleagues that Warrant Officer Michael Webber, 43, had pinned her down, touched her leg, and attempted to kiss her multiple times while they were left alone together in the early hours of July 13.
Beck reported the incident to Hook, who was leading the training course, and later to Shepherd, the regimental colonel of the Royal Artillery at the time. The court was told that Hook did not treat the report with the seriousness it warranted, while Shepherd allegedly misrepresented the details of Beck’s account to avoid escalation.
Legal proceedings and prior conviction
Webber, the soldier accused of assaulting Beck, pleaded guilty to the offense last year and was sentenced to six months in prison. The trial of Hook and Shepherd centers solely on their alleged failure to properly handle Beck’s complaint.
Commander Paul Patterson, prosecuting the case, stated that the officers’ actions amounted to a breach of military discipline. He argued that Beck was "let down" by the chain of command, which failed to address her complaint appropriately.
The court martial continues, with further testimony expected in the coming days.