Colonel cleared over handling of soldier abuse case

Two serving Army officers have been cleared of failing to properly deal with abuse allegations made by a teenage soldier who took her own life.

Maj James Hook and Col Samantha Shepherd were on trial at Military Court Centre at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire, in connection with the handling of concerns raised by Gunner Jaysley Beck, from Cumbria.

The 19-year-old took her own life at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire in 2021 after former Battery Sgt Michael Webber "pinned her down" and sexually assaulted her.

A board - which consisted of an Air Commodore, a Royal Navy captain and an Army colonel - returned a not guilty verdict for both officers following a two-day hearing.

The two senior officers were accused of "conduct prejudicial to good order and service discipline" after their handling of the sexual assault case.

Shepherd was cleared of the charge earlier after Assistant Judge Advocate General Edward Legard said there was "insufficient evidence" in the case against her.

Shepherd's barrister Derek Johashen said: "Colonel Shepherd is relieved by the decision.

Johashen added his client fully understood the impact on Gunner Beck's family.

"She always believed Gunner Beck, took her complaint seriously, listened to her and cared."

On Tuesday, the military court heard claims the 19-year-old had been "let down" when she told Shepherd and Hook "enough to understand that she may have been sexually assaulted" five months before she took her own life.

The board was told a chain of command failed to properly deal with the case.

Hook and Shepherd were charged by the Service Prosecution Authority over their handling of the case earlier this year.

The attack happened at a Royal Artillery adventure training exercise on Thorney Island, in Chichester Harbour, in July 2021.

At the time, Minister for Veterans and People, Louise Sandher-Jones MP described Jaysley's death as a "tragedy".