Jaysley Beck's mum: 'My daughter being silenced helps others find voice'
The mother of a soldier who took her own life after being sexually assaulted in the Army says other survivors have come to her with "heartbreaking" experiences.Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck, 19, was found dead in her barracks at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire on 15 December 2021 after a Christmas party.A coroner ruled the Army's failure to take action - after Gunner Beck was harassed by her line manager and sexually assaulted by another colleague - contributed to her death.Leighann McCready said: "Jaysley's voice being silenced has given others the strength to find theirs. That means everything to us."
The coroner said the fact the soldier had also been sexually assaulted by another senior colleague, and the Army's failure to take appropriate action, "more than minimally" contributed to Ms Beck's death."It's been very difficult since the inquest," Ms McCready told Stephanie Finnon from BBC Radio Cumbria.
Brig Melissa Emmett, head of the Army personnel services group, formally accepted failures were made and previously apologised to Gunner Beck's grieving family.She said "significant changes" had been made within the Army, including the "introduction of clear and unequivocal policies to state that there will be zero tolerance to unacceptable sexual behaviours".But Ms McCready said the apology was not issued personally to her, but she "heard the words on Sky News"."It still doesn't resonate with me.
"I thought we'd hear more in regards to the outcome but what I can say that there is a lot more going on in the background, which for legal reasons, I'm not allowed to disclose. "To have faced the abuser, and for him to just say 'no comment, no comment' throughout was difficult for us to listen to a family," Ms McCready, who is from Oxen Park, continued.
"It proved what we said from day one. We said it wasn't right, we weren't listened to and it's taken four years for them to say 'we've failed Jaysley Beck'."The Army are trying to make changes, very much too late in all honesty. "The service personnel are still feeling let down by the system in the Army."
Ms McCready said since her daughter's story had been shared, "so many people have reached out to us and shared their experience of sexual harassment and assault... it's really heartbreaking. "Jaysley's voice being silenced has given others the strength to find theirs."That means everything to us. "We take comfort in knowing that through her, others are being to speak up and feel seen."
Ms McCready and 24 of her daughter's friends and family were raising money for the Centre for Military Justice, she said.She said the group was doing a sky dive "as a stand against the silence that cost my daughter her life"."We won't stop until changes happen," she added. "If my 19-year-old daughter - who was in constant contact with us - was saying there was nowhere else to turn because within the Army you had to go through your chain of command. "We're trying to make changes so the Army cannot mark its own homework."
If you've been affected by any of the issues in this story you can find help and support via BBC Action Line here.
Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
23 minutes ago
- The Guardian
UK government signals it will not force tech firms to disclose how they train AI
Campaigners have accused ministers of lying to parliament and the creative industries after the government signalled it would not force AI companies to disclose how they train their models. Ministers are holding firm in a standoff with the House of Lords, which has called for artists to be offered immediate copyright protection against artificial intelligence companies. Peers voted by 221 to 116 on Wednesday to insist on an amendment to the data bill that would force AI firms to be transparent about what copyrighted material they use to train their models. In an amendment tabled on Friday, the government dismissed the Lords' request and reiterated its promise to publish an economic impact assessment and technical reports on the future of AI and copyright regulation. Beeban Kidron, the cross-bench peer and film director who has campaigned on behalf of the industry, said during Wednesday's debate that she would 'accept anything that the Commons does' after this week. 'I will not stand in front of your Lordships again and press our case,' she said. But the News Media Association (NMA), which represents publishers including the Guardian, said peers could table further amendments to the data bill when it returns to the Lords next Wednesday. Industry figures said the government was acting in bad faith by not addressing the Lords' concerns and called for it to make further amendments of its own before MPs vote on it on Tuesday. Kidron said: 'The government has repeatedly taken all protections for UK copyrights holders out of the data bill. In doing so they have shafted the creative industries, and they have proved willing to decimate the UK's second biggest industrial sector. They have lied to parliament, and they are lying to the sector.' She said the government's action 'adds another sector to the growing number that have an unbridgeable gap of trust with the government'. Owen Meredith, chief executive of the NMA, said: 'the government's refusal to listen to the strong view of the Lords … risks undermining the legislative process. 'There is still time for the government to do the right thing, and take transparency powers in this bill. This would be a key step towards rebuilding trust with a £126bn industry.' Sign up to Headlines UK Get the day's headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning after newsletter promotion The government's approach to copyright has drawn the ire of major creative artists and organisations including Paul McCartney, Kate Bush and the National Theatre, with Elton John describing the situation as an 'existential issue' this week. Opponents of the plans have warned that even if the attempts to insert clauses into the data bill fail, the government could be challenged in the courts over the proposed changes. The consultation on copyright changes, which is due to produce its findings before the end of the year, contains four options: to let AI companies use copyrighted work without permission, alongside an option for artists to 'opt out' of the process; to leave the situation unchanged; to require AI companies to seek licences for using copyrighted work; and to allow AI firms to use copyrighted work with no opt-out for creative companies and individuals. Kyle has said the copyright-waiver-plus-opt-out scenario is no longer the government's preferred option, but Kidron's amendments have attempted to head off that option by effectively requiring tech companies to seek licensing deals for any content that they use to train their AI models.
BBC News
24 minutes ago
- BBC News
Newton Aycliffe man jailed for kidnap and intent to rape teenager
A man who kidnapped a girl with the intention of raping her has been jailed for 11 well as kidnap, Matthew Hindhaugh had also pleaded guilty to assaulting and intentionally strangling the teenager in Crown Court heard that the 22-year-old, of Rowan Place in Newton Aycliffe, had also admitted possessing a samurai sword and making indecent images of children. Durham Police said Hindhaugh claimed he was trying to help the girl who he said had fallen over and hurt her face, but that "overwhelming CCTV evidence and witness statements proved otherwise". The victim said her attacker had punched her in the face before putting his hands over her mouth and telling her to be then forced her into his house and on to his bed where he held her down and started to unzip his described the girl as "quick-thinking" after she told Hindhaugh she would not tell anyone what had happened if he let her then escaped leaving a shoe behind. 'Chastity belt' Det Supt Peter Carr said the victim's bravery was "nothing short of extraordinary"."Not only did her resilience and quick-thinking actions manage to get her to safety, but she managed to prevent Hindhaugh from causing harm to anyone else," he said. "He is an extremely dangerous predator, whose actions were abhorrent that night."When arrested Hindhaugh was wearing a chastity belt which he told officers was to try and stop his sexual admitted eight charges including kidnap with the intention to commit rape, assault causing actual bodily harm and intentional strangulation, all committed on 27 also pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children, including 171 in the most serious category, between May 2015 and September 2024. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Sky News
27 minutes ago
- Sky News
Archbishop of Canterbury job advert goes live – and for the first time they could be a woman
A job description for the next Archbishop of Canterbury has gone live, seeking a leader with the "utmost integrity" - and, for the first time in the church's history, they could be a woman. Justin Welby left the vacancy in January after resigning following a damning review into the Church of England 's handling of a sexual abuse scandal. The archbishop is the most senior bishop and is the spiritual leader of the church and worldwide Anglican Communion. This week, a so-called 'statement of needs' was published by the Diocese of Canterbury, setting out a long list of requirements for the 106th archbishop. These include: A person with "theological depth" who is a strong communicator with people of all ages and backgrounds; Someone of the "utmost integrity who is able to speak honestly" about issues and injustices in the church; A "servant leader who shows compassion towards the disadvantaged and marginalised"; Being "unapologetic about offering a Christian perspective to local, national, and international dialogue"; A willingness to ordain and consecrate both men and women, support the ministry of both, and may themselves be male or female; Having previously "worked, and will continue to work constructively" around ongoing discussions around blessing services for same-sex couples, but also someone who can "embrace" both those who support and oppose same-sex marriage in the church. Women have been ordained in the Church of England for a number of years, but no woman has ever been in the top role. Candidates have historically already held senior leadership roles. They must be at least 30 years old - and generally younger than 70. Typically, rather than applying, candidates are "invited" to take part in the process. Earlier this year, a public consultation with over 11,000 people took place to give people the opportunity to submit candidates and desirable qualities. It is thought the candidate could be announced by the autumn, a year after Mr Welby resigned from the job. Mr Welby announced he was stepping down in November 2024 following failures in handling a church abuse scandal involving barrister and religious camp leader John Smyth QC. He is thought to be the most prolific abuser associated with the church.
