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Army Officers Deny Charges Over Handling of Jaysley Beck Complaint With September Trial Set

An inquest previously found the Army’s response to her report contributed to her death.

Overview

  • Colonel Samantha Shepherd and Major James Hook pleaded not guilty to conduct prejudicial to good order and service discipline at a Military Court Centre hearing held by video link.
  • The allegations state Shepherd failed to report an alleged sexual assault to service police and misreported Beck’s account, while Hook did not treat information from Beck with appropriate seriousness.
  • Judge Adjutant General Alan Large set a five-day trial to start on 14 September and a 23 June case management hearing, with the venue yet to be decided between Catterick and Bulford.
  • Former senior NCO Michael Webber was jailed in 2025 after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting Beck five months before her death.
  • Beck’s family have voiced ongoing concerns about Army failings, including the lack of a delivered independent complaints process.