Sgt George Higgins

The service inquiry into the 2015 suicide of Gunner Jaysley Beck, published in June 2023, revealed that Sergeant George Higgins, an AFC trainer eight years her senior, initiated a sexual relationship with the 17-year-old recruit during her final two-and-a-half months at the college. This relationship constituted a criminal offence under Section 16 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, prohibiting sexual contact between those over 18 and under-18s in positions of trust. Despite this, Higgins received no sanctions while in service and has since left the Army.

At Beck's inquest, Higgins refused to disclose when he first had sexual contact with her or if he had done so with other recruits at Harrogate. The inquiry highlighted how the relationship may have contributed to Beck's distress, leading to her tragic death after transferring to Larkhill Camp. CRIN's evidence to Parliament cites this as evidence of longstanding child protection failures at AFC, where girls under 18 face disproportionate sexual abuse risks.

• CRIN submission: 'The finding of the service inquiry into the suicide of Gunner Jaysley Beck... that Sgt George Higgins... started a sexual relationship with her. It is a criminal offence... Sgt Higgins has now left the Army, while he was in service he was not sanctioned.'
• Reference: Service inquiry published June 2023; inquest testimony.

CRIN recommends the Service Police investigate potential breaches of law in Higgins' relationship with Beck when she was under 18. This case, alongside convictions of other AFC staff, supports calls for urgent independent reviews of child safeguarding, as Ofsted's 'outstanding' welfare ratings fail to address documented abuses.