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A former military sergeant has been sentenced to six months in prison for committing sexual assault against a young gunner who subsequently died by suicide.

Warrant Officer Michael Webber, 43, pinned down soldier Jaysley Beck and attempted to force a kiss on her in July 2021. She was located without signs of life several months after in her quarters at Larkhill military installation.

The defendant, who was given his punishment at the Court Martial Centre in Wiltshire earlier, will be transferred to a correctional facility and on the offender database for multiple years.

The victim's mother Leighann Mcready commented: "His actions, and how the military failed to protect our child subsequently, resulted in her suicide."

Official Reaction

The Army acknowledged it failed to hear Gunner Beck, who was hailing from the Cumbrian village, when she reported the assault and has apologised for its response to her complaint.

After a formal inquiry regarding the soldier's suicide, the defendant pleaded guilty to one count of physical violation in the autumn.

The mother said her child ought to have been sitting with her loved ones in court now, "to witness the individual she reported held accountable for his actions."

"Instead, we are present without her, facing perpetual grief that no family should be forced to endure," she added.

"She followed the rules, but the individuals in charge didn't follow theirs. These shortcomings destroyed our daughter completely."

PA

Judicial Process

The legal tribunal was informed that the incident occurred during an military training at the exercise site, near Hampshire's Emsworth, in mid-2021.

The accused, a Sergeant Major at the moment, initiated inappropriate contact towards the soldier following an alcohol consumption while on deployment for a training exercise.

The victim claimed the accused remarked he had been "anticipating an opportunity for them to be alone" before grabbing her leg, restraining her, and trying to kiss her.

She made official allegations against Webber after the violation, notwithstanding efforts by commanding officers to discourage her.

An official inquiry into her suicide found the Army's handling of the report played "an important role in her death."

Mother's Testimony

In a statement shared to the court previously, the parent, expressed: "She had just turned a teenager and will always be a young person full of energy and happiness."

"She trusted people to protect her and post-incident, the faith was shattered. She was extremely troubled and terrified of the accused."

"I saw the change before my own eyes. She felt powerless and betrayed. That assault broke her confidence in the system that was meant to protect her."

Court Ruling

When announcing the verdict, The judicial officer the judge stated: "We have to consider whether it can be handled in a different manner. We do not believe it can."

"We conclude the seriousness of the offence means it can only be resolved by immediate custody."

He told Webber: "The victim had the bravery and wisdom to demand you halt and told you to leave the area, but you persisted to the degree she considered she would remain in danger from you despite the fact she retreated to her assigned barracks."

He continued: "The next morning, she disclosed the assault to her loved ones, her acquaintances and her chain of command."

"After the complaint, the unit opted to deal with you with light disciplinary measures."

"You were subject to inquiry and you admitted your conduct had been inappropriate. You wrote a written apology."

"Your career proceeded completely unaffected and you were in due course elevated to senior position."

Additional Context

At the inquest into the tragic passing, the official examiner said a commanding officer put pressure on her to withdraw the complaint, and merely disclosed it to a higher command "once details became known."

At the moment, the accused was given a "minimal consequence discussion" with no serious repercussions.

The inquiry was also told that only a short time after the incident the servicewoman had additionally been facing "continuous bullying" by a separate individual.

Another soldier, her commanding individual, directed toward her over four thousand six hundred text messages confessing his feelings for her, in addition to a 15-page "romantic narrative" detailing his "personal thoughts."

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Institutional Response

The military leadership stated it extended its "sincerest condolences" to Gunner Beck and her relatives.

"We will always be sincerely regretful for the shortcomings that were noted at Jaysley's inquest in February."

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