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Family Snapshot

A former Army sergeant major has been given half a year in prison for committing sexual assault against a 19-year-old soldier who afterwards died by suicide.

Warrant Officer the former sergeant, forty-three, held down service member Jaysley Beck and tried to make physical contact in July 2021. She was found dead five months later in her quarters at Larkhill, Wiltshire.

Webber, who was judged at the Court Martial Centre in Wiltshire earlier, will be sent to a civilian prison and listed on sex offenders register for a seven-year period.

The victim's mother Leighann Mcready remarked: "His actions, and how the Army neglected to defend our young woman subsequently, resulted in her suicide."

Official Reaction

The military leadership stated it did not listen to the soldier, who was a native of Oxen Park in Cumbria, when she reported the assault and has said sorry for its response to her report.

Following an investigation of Gunner Beck's death, the defendant confessed to a single charge of unwanted sexual advance in September.

The grieving parent said her child could have been alongside her loved ones in legal proceedings this day, "to observe the person she accused held accountable for the assault."

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

"She complied with procedures, but the individuals in charge failed in their duties. Such negligence shattered our child completely."

PA

Legal Hearing

The legal tribunal was advised that the violation occurred during an field exercise at the exercise site, near the Hampshire area, in mid-2021.

The accused, a Sergeant Major at the period, attempted physical intimacy towards the servicewoman following an alcohol consumption while on duty for a training exercise.

The victim testified the accused said he had been "waiting for a moment for them to be by themselves" before taking hold of her, pinning her down, and making unwanted advances.

She made official allegations against the sergeant following the assault, notwithstanding efforts by commanding officers to discourage her.

An inquest into her suicide found the armed forces' response of the allegations played "an important contributing factor in her demise."

Family Statement

In a testimony presented to the court previously, the parent, stated: "The young woman had only become 19 and will eternally stay a teenager full of vitality and joy."

"She had faith individuals to protect her and following the assault, the trust was lost. She was very upset and fearful of Michael Webber."

"I observed the difference firsthand. She felt helpless and deceived. That violation broke her confidence in the system that was intended to safeguard her."

Sentencing Remarks

When announcing the verdict, The judicial officer the magistrate remarked: "We need to assess whether it can be addressed in a different manner. We do not believe it can."

"We have determined the seriousness of the crime means it can only be resolved by immediate custody."

He spoke to the convicted individual: "The victim had the courage and good sense to demand you halt and directed you to retire for the night, but you persisted to the extent she believed she would remain in danger from you even when she retreated to her personal quarters."

He stated further: "The following day, she reported the incident to her loved ones, her acquaintances and her commanding officers."

"After the complaint, the military unit opted to address your behavior with minor administrative action."

"You underwent questioning and you acknowledged your conduct had been unacceptable. You wrote a letter of apology."

"Your career proceeded unimpeded and you were subsequently promoted to Warrant Officer 1."

Further Details

At the inquest into Gunner Beck's death, the official examiner said a commanding officer influenced her to drop the allegations, and merely disclosed it to a superior officers "when the cat was already out of the bag."

At the period, the accused was given a "minimal consequence discussion" with no further consequences.

The investigation was further advised that mere weeks after the assault Gunner Beck had also been facing "continuous bullying" by another soldier.

Bombardier Ryan Mason, her line manager, sent her more than 4,600 SMS communications expressing emotions for her, along with a 15-page "romantic narrative" detailing his "fantasies about her."

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Organizational Reaction

The Army expressed it offered its "deepest sympathies" to the soldier and her loved ones.

"We remain profoundly sorry for the deficiencies that were discovered at Jaysley's inquest in winter."

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